Systemic Racism in the RCMP
Date: October 9, 2020
Classification: Unclassified
Branch / Agency: RCMP
Proposed Response:
- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada's national police service, is taking a clear stand against all forms of racism and discrimination. The RCMP is an organization where treating others with dignity is expected and respect is earned.
- There is no room for racism – or any other kind of discrimination – in Canada's RCMP.
- Canadians value an RCMP where good people are recognized for treating people with dignity and respect and making their communities better than they were when they got there.
- It is critically important for Canadians to feel protected by the police. We are committed to taking whatever steps are required to enhance trust between the RCMP and the communities we serve.
- The RCMP is putting its best foot forward to learn from past and recent events to be more responsive to the needs of diverse Canadian communities and individuals.
- I am confident that the Commissioner understands what Canadians expect from her and her organization in terms of addressing concerns of systemic racism in policing and the greater justice system.
- The RCMP is preparing to take strong action to respond to these concerns by demonstrating leadership, accountability and transparency, strengthening its learning activities and identifying key areas for change.
- I continue to support the RCMP’s efforts to modernize its culture to one that fosters inclusion and promotes diversity.
Financial Implications:
- No financial implications
Background:
The RCMP is facing greater scrutiny following a series of recent incidents across Canada, including a First Nations Chief in Alberta who claims we was beaten by police over an expired licence plate tag and a man in Nunavut who was arrested by being knocked over by a police vehicle.
Recent negative media coverage involving systemic racism in the RCMP has centered around the accommodation of Sikh members who are unable to wear tight-fitting personal protective equipment for religious reasons. As communicated by the RCMP’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Gail Johnson, the RCMP is now allowing Sikh members to return to operational duties following a risk assessment by divisional Commanding Officers. The RCMP will continue to take appropriate action to ensure the health and safety of its officers and members of the public while respecting their individual dignity.
Ove the past two years, the RCMP has initiated a review of its policies and programs to ensure they are barrier-free. This included a GBA+ of its recruiting process, which identified areas for improvement. Further reviews are underway to address areas that are barriers to diverse applicants. The RCMP is also developing a strategy to increase diversity at the senior levels in response to a recent audit of Commissioned Officer Staffing.
Over the past year, the RCMP has been working towards the development of its first Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy. The strategy is designed to establish a strong foundation for equity, diversity and inclusion practice, by being clear and coherent about directions for focused action including on recognizing and living RCMP values that speak to the fundamental dignity of all individuals.
The Strategy will support leaders at all levels of the organization and engage them to establish:
- solid governance;
- clear, transparent and accountable practices;
- stronger education, awareness and training regimes, and
- the foundations for culture change.
The strategy is an important component of the RCMP’s response to concerns of systemic racism from the public, the media and government.
Like many departments, the RCMP has adopted Gender-based analysis+ as a tool to examine systemic issues and inequities. The RCMP Gender based analysis is being used as the organization reviews its recruiting practices, the training offered to front line officers, and as it continues to make key changes to workplace and operational policies.
The RCMP is working with the newly created Management Advisory Board to incorporate its expertise in a number of areas, including workplace culture, human resources and governance.
The RCMP is making concrete progress in establishing the foundation for change and to address key issues including diversity and inclusion, wellness and reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous peoples.
The RCMP is also actively supporting the National Action Plans to address gender-based violence, calls to justice from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Commission, as well as the Anti-Racism Strategy led by Canadian Heritage.
While there are a number of actions underway, seeing changes in its workforce in an organization as large as the RCMP will take time, but I am confident that the organization is moving in the right direction.
Contacts:
Prepared by: Alexandre Wood, 613-825-5973
Approved by: Gail Johnson Chief Human resources Officer 613 843-6199
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