Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Mounties close ranks against the first woman to speak out about sexual harassment

How quickly they close ranks.

Eight months ago, when he was appointed commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Bob Paulson vowed to get to the bottom of the allegations of sexual harassment in the force to restore Canadians’ respect for the RCMP. “This situation cannot continue,” the veteran Mountie said. “I have asked for a comprehensive review of any outstanding complaints to satisfy myself that the allegations are being addressed, the complainants are being supported and the offenders are being dealt with.”

Five months later, when the commissioner appeared before Parliament’s status of women committee, his tone had changed subtly. “I think the problem is bigger than simply sexual harassment,” he told the female-dominated committee. “I think what’s happened is that the RCMP hasn’t kept pace with society in general and how society has moved to provide systems and processes that insist upon equality.”

No one took this as a warning signal. MPs simply assumed he had discovered how complex and deeply rooted the problem was.

But last week the RCMP — backed by both the federal and British Columbia governments — issued a sweeping denial of the allegations made by Cpl. Catherine Galliford, the first female Mountie to sue the force.

The move was unexpected and regressive.

Galliford spent 16 years with the RCMP. The 44-year-old communications officer was the public face of the force through the Air India probe, the investigation of serial killer Robert Pickton and the missing women task force. Day after day she stood in the spotlight defending the RCMP’s handling of these two massive crimes.

She is now on leave from active duty, dealing with medical problems including post-traumatic stress and an overdependence on alcohol.

“If the plaintiff had concerns about conflict, harassment or intimidation in the workplace by other members or officers, she was obliged and had opportunities to make a complaint,” the RCMP statement said. It went on to portray Galliford as an alcoholic who had refused treatment and “contributed to any medical conditions or problems she had or now has.”

This time, there is no mistaking the RCMP’s intent: to undermine Galliford’s credibility before the case goes to court.

Blaming the victim is a common legal tactic. But it is a dubious choice in this instance. Not only does it contradict the commissioner’s public pledge to root out sexual harassment in the 26,000-member force. It is reminiscent of the defence men charged with rape have used since Victorian times.

Fortunately, it will be up to the court to weigh both sides of the story and make its own assessment of the credibility of the plaintiff, the defendants (which include the RCMP, its doctor, three senior officers and a member of the Vancouver police department) and the witnesses.

Whatever the outcome of the case, the story won’t end here. Four other members of the force have launched lawsuits, including a class-action suit by retired RCMP constable Janet Merlo on behalf of more than 150 women employed by the Mounties.

It will take more than legal manoeuvres for the RCMP to extricate itself from this rapidly metastasizing mess. And the public — women especially — will be watching. As Liberal MP Judy Sgro told the commissioner when he appeared before the status of women committee: “You’re saying very sincerely all of the right things but I do worry whether any action will happen.”

Skeptical questions are already bubbling up:

 • How is it that Paulson, who rose through the ranks of the RCMP in British Columbia, where most of the sexual harassment complaints originated, was silent on this issue until he became commissioner?

 • Where was his reformist zeal during his 19 years in the B.C. division? How seriously can Canadians take it now?

 • Does he condone the RCMP’s denial of Galliford’s claims? Did he authorize it?

The same day the RCMP released its statement of defence, its chief recruiter in B.C. adopted a new tack. Superintendent Maria Nickel said women considering a career in policing need the “inner strength” to deal with harassment. “Really, you are going into a predominantly male environment,” she said. “You can either let yourself be a victim of it, if you will, or can rely on that inner strength.”

Is this what Paulson meant by “ensuring that RCMP employees can thrive in a healthy, productive and harassment-free environment”?

If so, he has let women down and cast a pall over his leadership of the RCMP.

Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Goar, Carol

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