Supreme Court dismisses appeal to stop class action against RCMP for bullying

The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear an appeal from the federal government trying to stop a class action against the RCMP over bullying and harassment.

Last fall the Federal Court of Appeal upheld a judge’s order certifying the class action.

In a decision today the Supreme Court dismissed with costs an app

lication by government lawyers asking it to review that decision.

As usual the Supreme Court gave no reasons for the decision to dismiss the appeal.

Related articles:

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• New advisory board to help RCMP modernize amid history of bullying, harassment

The lead plaintiffs in the class action, veteran RCMP members Geoffrey Greenwood and Todd Gray, say there was a culture of systemic intimidation and harassment in the force that was condoned by RCMP leadership.

The federal government wanted the class action certification reviewed, arguing there are already administrative resolution processes in place for workplace harassment claims.

It argued the case is not about whether there is — or has been — a harassment problem in the RCMP, or even whether the RCMP’s leaders have appropriately responded to the problem.

The federal lawyers argued the sole question is whether the proposed claims ought to proceed through the vehicle of a class action, and said the proposed action fails to satisfy even the threshold for certification.

The RCMP has already settled class-action lawsuits involving millions of dollars in payouts for discrimination, bullying and harassment involving female RCMP members and those who served the force in non-policing roles from 1974 onwards.

The current case is more general in scope, applying to employees, including men, who worked for the RCMP in a wide array of roles over the decades, but excluding women whose treatment is covered by other class actions.

Read more: Bullying, harassment thrive at RCMP, watchdog says changes are needed

In 2019, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale and RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki announced the creation of a management advisory board, to help the RCMP modernize after years of grappling with internal bullying and harassment.

It follows a 2017 report by the RCMP watchdog, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission, which found bullying and harassment were serious problems within the national police force, and only major changes to the way it is run will make any difference.

With files from Mike Lloyd