:Controversies surrounding the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

{{short description|List of controversial events (1920 - present) that involve the RCMP}}

{{Multiple issues|

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The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has a history dating back to 1873 and has been involved in several high-profile controversies.

Early controversies

File:RCMP officers during the Estevan Riot.JPG

Until 1920, the RCMP's forerunner, the Royal North-West Mounted Police, operated only in Western Canada and the North. The new organization was created by an amalgamation with the Dominion Police, giving the RCMP a national security mandate as a departure from its earlier role as a frontier police force. Early controversies grew from its preoccupation with Communism and the labour movement.{{cite web|url=https://thenewinquiry.com/a-condensed-history-of-canadas-colonial-cops/|title=A Condensed History of Canada's Colonial Cops|date=10 March 2020|author=M. Gouldhawke|access-date=25 January 2021}} Following from its operations in the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919, the RCMP intervened in labour disputes, not as an impartial law enforcement agency, but to assist with breaking strikes. In one incident, RCMP officers clashed with striking coal miners for 45 minutes in Estevan, Saskatchewan in 1933 and killed three miners during the Estevan Riot. Part of its strategy against labour organizing included extensive use of spies for surveillance of suspected Communists, which was revealed at the court trial that convicted the leadership of the Communist Party under Section 98 of the Criminal Code in 1932. Political surveillance activities were conducted out of its Criminal Investigation Department until a separate branch, the RCMP Security Service, was established in 1950. The RCMP was also the force used to stop the On-to-Ottawa Trek by precipitating another bloody clash that left one Regina city police officer and one protester dead in the 1935 Regina Riot. The Mounties were frequently criticized for these activities by labour and the left, including one of its most prominent surveillance targets, Member of Parliament J. S. Woodsworth. A dispute with the Government of Alberta over prohibition led to the creation of a separate Alberta Provincial Police from 1917 to 1932.{{cite journal| author =Steven Roy Hewitt| title =Old Myths Die Hard: The Transformation of the Mounted Police in Alberta and Saskatchewan, 1914-1939| version =PhD thesis| publisher =University of Saskatchewan| year =1997| url =http://library2.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-10202004-235919/unrestricted/nq23937.pdf| accessdate = 2007-01-13 }}

Killing of Inuit-owned sled dogs

There have been many Inuit accounts related to the alleged killings of sled dogs during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, as well as the impact of the federal government's efforts during that time to relocate Inuit into modern settlements.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/lengthy-process-ahead-for-inuit-truth-panel-commissioner-1.727252 |title=Lengthy process ahead for Inuit truth panel: commissioner |date=January 24, 2008 |work=CBC.ca |access-date=27 November 2010 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804052203/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2008/01/24/truth-kimmirut.html |archive-date=August 4, 2009 }}

Theft of dynamite

In April 1971, a team of RCMP officers broke into the storage facilities of Richelieu Explosives, and stole an unspecified amount of dynamite. A year later, in April 1972, officers hid four cases of dynamite in Mont Saint-Grégoire, in an attempt to link the explosives with the FLQ. This was later admitted by Solicitor General Francis Fox on October 31, 1977.

Intelligence mole

In 1967, it was suspected that there was a Soviet infiltrator in the ranks of Canadian intelligence. Suspicion initially fell upon Leslie James Bennett. With Bennett's personal leftist politics, and past acquaintanceship with defector Kim Philby, he was pilloried as the most likely suspect by the RCMP themselves, although the RCMP was asked to investigate Bennett by James Jesus Angleton of the CIA.Michael Howard Holzman, James Jesus Angleton, the CIA, and the craft of counterintelligence (U of Mass Press, 2008) p. 218 The accusations and interrogations by the police led to the breakdown of Bennett's marriage and early retirement.Sawatsky, John. "For Services Rendered: Leslie James Bennett and the RCMP Security Service", 19782

In the 1980s it was discovered that the mole had actually been Sergeant Gilles Brunet, the son of an RCMP assistant commissioner.

Barn-burning scandal

On the night of May 6, 1972, the RCMP Security Service burned down a barn owned by Paul Rose's and Jacques Rose's mother in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Rochelle, Quebec. They suspected that separatists were planning to meet with members of the Black Panthers from the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/8427-e.htm#B.+Abuses|title=Research Publications|website=www.parl.gc.ca|access-date=2006-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105215923/http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/8427-e.htm#B.+Abuses|archive-date=2009-11-05|url-status = dead}} The arson came after they failed to convince a judge to allow them to wiretap the alleged meeting place. This was later admitted by Solicitor General Francis Fox on October 31, 1977.

RCMP Assistant Commissioner Rod Stamler later said that the barn-burning operation was "morally wrong and unlawful" and if the police leadership condones such actions, it will lose control of the (police) force."{{cite book|last1=Palango|first1=Paul|title=Above the Law|date=1994|publisher=McClelland & Stewart Inc.|location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada|isbn=0-7710-6929-4|page=[https://archive.org/details/abovelaw00paul/page/193 193]|edition=1994 Hardcover|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/abovelaw00paul/page/193}}

Staff Sergeant Donald McCleery (1934-2014) was involved in the operation, and following his retirement from the RCMP ran his own "investigation and surveillance" company in Montreal, Quebec.{{cite web|url=http://www.donaldmccleery.com/eng/CompanyProfile.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710143636/http://www.donaldmccleery.com/eng/CompanyProfile.asp|archive-date=10 July 2011|title=Donald McCleery and Associates Inc. - Company Profile}} The firm was acquired by Gardium Sécurité in 2008.{{cite news|title=Gardium Sécurité acquires Donald McCleery & Associates Inc. - Pioneering Quebec private investigation firm joins Gardium Sécurité|url=http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/gardium-securite-acquires-donald-mccleery--associates-inc---pioneering-quebec-private-investigation-firm-joins-gardium-securite-536833661.html|accessdate=18 May 2016|work=Canadian News Wire|agency=CNW Telbec|publisher=CNW Group|date=12 November 2008|archive-date=16 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616204957/http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/gardium-securite-acquires-donald-mccleery--associates-inc---pioneering-quebec-private-investigation-firm-joins-gardium-securite-536833661.html|url-status=dead}}

Theft of PQ members list

In 1973, more than thirty members of the RCMP Security Service committed a break-in to steal a computerized members list of Parti Québécois members, in an investigation dubbed Operation Ham.{{cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/researchpublications/8427-e.pdf|title=Current Issue Review, The Canadian Security Intelligence Service}} This was later admitted by Solicitor General Francis Fox on October 28, 1977. John Starnes (RCMP), head of the RCMP Security Service, claimed that the purpose of this operation was to investigate allegations that the PQ had funneled $200,000 worth of donations through a Swiss banking account.{{cite web|url=http://www2.marianopolis.edu/quebechistory/chronos/october.htm|title=Chronology of the October Crisis, 1970, and its Aftermath - Quebec History|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213235102/http://www2.marianopolis.edu/quebechistory/chronos/october.htm|archive-date=2007-02-13}}

Break-ins and bombing

A series of more than 400 illegal break-ins by the RCMP was revealed by Vancouver Sun reporter John Sawatsky in his front-page exposé headline "Trail of break-in leads to RCMP cover-up" on December 7, 1976. The story won the Vancouver Sun the Michener Award that year.{{cite web|url=http://www.michenerawards.ca/english/winAward/winaward1976.htm|title=The 1976 Michener Award Winner - The Vancouver Sun|work=The Michener Awards Foundation|accessdate=27 November 2010|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719043824/http://www.michenerawards.ca/english/winAward/winaward1976.htm|archive-date=19 July 2011}}

It wasn't until the following year that it was uncovered that the October 6, 1972, break-in at the Agence de Presse Libre du Québec office, had been the work of an RCMP investigation dubbed Operation Bricole, not right-wing militants as previously believed.{{cite web|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jul2005/ind2-j30.shtml|title=Twenty years since the Air India bombings—Part 2|first=David|last=Adelaide|date=30 July 2005 }} The small leftist Quebec group had reported more than a thousand significant files missing or damaged following the break-in.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sirc-csars.gc.ca/reflections/sec2a_e.html |title=Looking Back: The Case for Security Intelligence Review in Canada |publisher=Security Intelligence Review Committee, Government of Canada |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907150517/http://www.sirc-csars.gc.ca/reflections/sec2a_e.html |archive-date=September 7, 2006 |url-status = dead}} One RCMP, one SQ and one SPVM officer pleaded guilty on June 16, 1977, but were given unconditional discharges.

A similar break-in occurred at the same time, at the office of the Mouvement pour la Défense des Prisonniers Politiques Québécois.

In 1974, RCMP Security Service Corporal Robert Samson was arrested at a hospital after a failed bombing - the bomb exploded while in his hands, causing him to lose some fingers and tearing his eardrums - at the house of Sam Steinberg, founder of Steinberg Foods in Montreal. While this bombing was not sanctioned by the RCMP, at trial he announced that he had done "much worse" on behalf of the RCMP, and admitted he had been involved in the APLQ break-in.{{cite web|url=http://www.gatecreepers.com/entries/exclusive-the-role-of-the-media-in-the-october/|title=EXCLUSIVE: The Role of the Media in the October Crisis|date=2007-03-30|work=Gatecreepers|accessdate=27 November 2010}}

On April 19, 1978, the Director of the RCMP criminal operations branch, admitted that the RCMP had entered more than 400 premises without warrant since 1970.

Inquiries

In 1977, the Quebec provincial government launched the Keable Inquiry into Illegal Police Activities, which resulted in 17 members of the RCMP being charged with 44 offences.

In the same year, a Royal Commission was formed by Justice David McDonald titled Royal Commission of Inquiry into Certain Activities of the RCMP to investigate allegations of vast wrongdoing by the national police force. The inquiry's 1981 recommendation was to limit the RCMP's role in intelligence operations, and resulted in the formation of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service three years later.

The Savoie scandal

In 1992 a senior RCMP officer Claude Savoie was exposed as corrupt, causing a major scandal that ended with Savoie shooting himself in his Ottawa office.{{cite news |last1=Boisvert |first1=Yves |title=Un suicide opportun |access-date=8 May 2022 |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/debats/chroniques/yves-boisvert/201201/18/01-4487254-un-suicide-opportun.php|publisher=La Presse |date=18 January 2012}} One of Savoie's subordinates, Jorge Leite, was found guilty of corruption in 1999.{{cite news |title=Former Mountie won't do time for corruption |url=http://www.rave.ca/en/news_info/180644/all/ |access-date=7 November 2022 |publisher=The Toronto Star |date=January 20, 1999}}

Excessive use of force at the 1997 APEC Summit

In 1997, the APEC summit was held in Vancouver, British Columbia. Controversy arose after officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police used pepper spray and strip searches against protesters, who were objecting to the presence of several autocratic leaders such as Indonesian president Suharto. A subsequent public inquiry concluded that the RCMP was at fault, showing a lack of professionalism and a failure in preemptive planning. The report also charged that the Canadian government interfered with police operations, possibly in an effort to shield certain leaders from being publicly embarrassed by the protests.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/rcmp-slammed-in-apec-report-1.266508 |title=RCMP slammed in APEC report |date=August 7, 2001 |work=CBC.ca |access-date=27 November 2010 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026191857/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2001/08/07/apec010807.html |archive-date=October 26, 2009 }}

Killing of Darren Varley

In 1999 RCMP Constable Michael Ferguson fatally shot local resident Darren Varley after being attacked inside the holding cells at a Pincher Creek police station. Ferguson was prosecuted twice for murder, resulting in two hung juries, and was then convicted of the killing and found guilty of manslaughter.

RCMP bombing in Alberta, scapegoating farmer

The RCMP bombed an oilsite in Alberta on October 14, 1998, on the instructions of the Alberta Energy Co. No injuries were caused or intended. The Crown lawyers, representing the government, accepted that the allegations were true. An Alberta farmer was blamed for the bombing. He had been complaining about oil pollution causing a nuisance. The court held him and another farmer without bail.{{cite news |title=RCMP bombed oil site in 'dirty tricks' campaign |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/rcmp-bombed-oil-site-in-dirty-tricks-campaign-1.188599 |date=January 30, 1999 |accessdate=October 19, 2013 | publisher=CBC News}}

Torture scandal: Ahmad El Maati, Abdullah Almalki and Maher Arar

On September 26, 2002, during a stopover in New York City en route from a family vacation in Tunisia to Montreal, Maher Arar was detained by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, acting upon information supplied by the RCMP.

Arar was sent to Syria where he was imprisoned for more than 10 months, tortured and forced to sign a false confession that he had trained in Al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan. A public campaign ended in his release and won a public inquiry into his case, which found that he had no ties to terrorism.

Like Arar, Ahmad El Maati, Abdullah Almalki and Muayyed Nureddin are Canadian Muslim men who were detained and tortured overseas while under investigation by Canadian investigators. They were all detained when they arrived in Syria and taken to the same Syrian detention centre — the Far' Falastin, or Palestine Branch — of the Syrian Military Intelligence. All were tortured. All were interrogated by the same Syrian interrogation team, who accused them all of links to terrorism using information and questions that could only have originated with Canadian agencies. The Arar Inquiry has already determined that the RCMP sent questions for Abdullah Almalki to his Syrian interrogators. As in the case of Arar, unnamed Canadian officials used the media to publicly accuse El Maati and Almalki of having ties to al-Qaeda. No Canadian official has admitted to making these accusations in the media, and many years later, no evidence has ever been produced to back their claims. Like Arar, El Maati and Nureddin were eventually released without charge. Almalki was cleared, acquitted and released. When they returned to Canada, they all called for a process which would expose the truth about the role of Canadian agencies in what happened to them, and which would help them clear their names and rebuild their lives.{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrypither.com|title=Kerry Pither - author • commentator • strategist|website=www.kerrypither.com}}

On September 28, 2006, RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli issued a carefully worded public apology to Arar and his family during the House of Commons committee on public safety and national security:

Mr. Arar, I wish to take this opportunity to express publicly to you and to your wife and to your children how truly sorry I am for whatever part the actions of the RCMP may have contributed to the terrible injustices that you experienced and the pain that you and your family endured.

In a subsequent December 2006 appearance in front of the Commons committee, Zaccardelli said the timeline—regarding what he knew at the time and what he told government ministers—given in his first appearance in September was inaccurate. He resigned the following day.

On January 26, 2007, after months of negotiations between the Canadian government and Arar's Canadian legal counsel, Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a formal apology "for any role Canadian officials may have played in what happened to Mr. Arar, Monia Mazigh and their family in 2002 and 2003" and announced that Arar would receive $10.5 million settlement for his ordeal and an additional $1 million for legal costs. Ahmad El Maati and Abdullah Almalki, meanwhile, still await answers in their cases from the secretive Iacobucci Inquiry into the RCMP and other Canadian agencies' alleged role in their overseas detention and torture.

Pension fund scandal

In 2004, Andrew McIntosh, an investigative journalist at The National Post, revealed a secret audit that detailed misuse of millions of dollars by the RCMP of its own members' pension fund.

He also revealed that several people had been forced from their jobs because of the scandal, but that there had not been a proper probe into the irregularities. The same day his story was published, Commissioner Zaccardelli announced the force would pay back to the pension fund the millions misused and that he called for a police probe by Ottawa Police Force, though Zaccardelli somehow managed to maintain control over the probe{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} and nobody was subsequently charged.

After Zaccardelli's resignation in 2007, a public accounts committee heard several testimonies from former and serving RCMP officers alleging serious fraud and nepotism at the upper management level under Zaccardelli. The fraud allegations go back to 2002 and are related to RCMP pension and insurance plans for members of the force. Zaccardelli launched and then two days later cancelled a criminal investigation into the matter, which was resumed by the Ottawa Police Service after his resignation. That investigation found serious nepotism and wasteful spending. A follow-up investigation by the Auditor-General found millions of dollars inappropriately charged to the pension and insurance plans.{{cite news|title=RCMP officers accuse top ranks of coverup |publisher=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/rcmp-officers-accuse-top-ranks-of-coverup-1.633014 |date=28 March 2007 |access-date=2007-06-17 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401151008/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/03/28/rcmp-allegations.html |archive-date=April 1, 2007 }}

A subsequent investigation conducted by a former head of the Ontario Securities Commission strongly criticized the management style of Zaccardelli, who, he said, was responsible for "a fundamental breach of trust" and called for a major shake-up of the force. Specifically, RCMP members and employees who attempted to address the pension fund issue suffered "career damage" for doing so, according to the investigators findings.{{cite news|title=RCMP needs major shakeup: federal investigator's report |publisher=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/rcmp-needs-major-shakeup-federal-investigator-s-report-1.637678 |date=15 June 2007 |access-date=2007-06-17 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070618181404/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/06/15/rcmp-pension-070615.html |archive-date=18 June 2007 }} Interim RCMP Commissioner Beverley Busson concurred with the recommendations and promised that individuals that the upper ranks attempted to silence would be thanked and recognized.{{cite news|title=RCMP commissioner promises to do right by abused employees |publisher=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/rcmp-commissioner-promises-to-do-right-by-abused-employees-1.643878 |date=16 June 2007 |access-date=2007-06-17 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620010046/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/06/16/busson-rcmp.html |archive-date=June 20, 2007 }}

Constable Justin Harris and the Prince George RCMP

Following the 2002 case of a Prince George judge, David Ramsay, who pleaded guilty to misconduct with young prostitutes, similar allegations were made against Constable Justin Harris and other RCMP officers. Harris was accused of having touched an underage prostitute, paying a prostitute for sex, and refusing to pay at all, between 1993 and 2001.[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/accused-rcmp-officer-says-force-acted-too-late-against-him-1.576208 Accused RCMP officer says force acted too late against him], CBC, Tuesday, October 3, 2006.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act forbids a hearing from taking place more than one-year after a senior officer has been made aware of such allegations, but because the allegations had been made against nine officers with little evidence, the RCMP did not launch a criminal investigation against Harris and did not launch a misconduct hearing until 2005. On October 4, 2006, the RCMP disciplinary board decided to stop all proceedings against Harris because the investigation conflicted with the RCMP Act. (This decision has since been appealed by the senior RCMP officer in BC)[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/hearing-dismissed-for-mountie-accused-of-having-sex-with-teen-prostitutes-1.595128 Hearing dismissed for Mountie accused of having sex with teen prostitutes] CBC, Wednesday, October 4, 2006 Public outcry from people like Daisy Kler of Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter criticized the RCMP's internal investigation policies.

Ian Bush incident

On October 29, 2005, Ian Bush, 22 was arrested in Houston, British Columbia. At the RCMP detachment office, Bush died due to a single gunshot wound to the back of the head.{{cite news

|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=132730

|title=Inquiry clears RCMP officer in death of Ian Bush

|newspaper=National Post

|accessdate=2007-12-08

|date=2007-11-30

}} {{dead link|date=May 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=132738 |title=Officer who shot Ian Bush to testify |newspaper=National Post |accessdate=2007-12-08 |date=2007-11-29 }} {{dead link|date=September 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Constable Paul Koester and Bush were alone in the interrogation room.{{cite news

| url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/lethal-force-necessary-in-ian-bush-s-death-ruling-1.265827

| title=Lethal force necessary in Ian Bush's death: ruling

| publisher=CTV

| accessdate=2007-12-08

| date=2007-11-29}} Koester claimed Bush attacked him, and that he was being choked from behind to unconsciousness and acted in self-defence. An investigation was conducted by an RCMP team brought in from another region. That investigation was reviewed by several agencies including the Ministry of the Attorney General of BC, and the federal Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Koester was cleared of any wrongdoing. The Coroner's Inquest into the death reached the same conclusion.

Conflicting evidence was given at the inquest. The analyses of the blood spatter evidence by an RCMP forensics officer, Jim Hignell, and Edmonton police constable, Joseph Slemko, differed; the former supporting Koester's account, the latter contradicting it.{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=135891 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090802193243/http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=135891 |url-status = dead|archive-date=2009-08-02 |title=Findings did not receive fair analysis: blood expert |newspaper=National Post |accessdate=2007-12-08 |date=2007-11-30 }}

Role in the death of Robert Dziekański

The death of Robert Dziekański occurred when Dziekański, a Polish immigrant, arrived at the Vancouver International Airport on October 13, 2007. After being released from Customs after a ten-hour delay, he became agitated and violent. Four RCMP officers attended to arrest Dziekański; one fired a Taser after which Dziekański fell to the ground. He was then pinned and handcuffed by the officers, and then Tasered repeatedly until he lost consciousness.{{cite news |newspaper=The Toronto Star |title=No charges in Taser death, B.C. Crown says |date=December 12, 2008 |url=https://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/552940 |access-date=December 13, 2008 |first=Petti |last=Fong |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081213153111/http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/552940 |archive-date=December 13, 2008 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dziekanski-jolted-again-after-falling-to-floor-mountie-testifies-1.863855 |title=Dziekanski jolted again after falling to floor, Mountie testifies |author=CBC News |date=March 2, 2009 |access-date=March 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306101541/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dziekanski-jolted-again-after-falling-to-floor-mountie-testifies-1.863855 |archive-date=March 6, 2009 |url-status=live }} Testimony from the officers differs regarding whether or not Dziekański's pulse was checked,{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/officer-monitoring-dziekanski-wasn-t-up-to-date-in-first-aid-1.817738 |work=CBC News |title=Officer monitoring Dziekanski wasn't up to date in first aid |date=March 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406001515/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/officer-monitoring-dziekanski-wasn-t-up-to-date-in-first-aid-1.817738 |archive-date=April 6, 2010}} but when paramedics arrived approximately 15 minutes later he could not be resusciated, and he was declared dead at the scene.{{cite news |title=Taser video shows RCMP shocked immigrant within 25 seconds of their arrival |publisher=CBC News |date=November 14, 2007 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/taser-video-shows-rcmp-shocked-immigrant-within-25-seconds-of-their-arrival-1.652207 |access-date=November 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219233730/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/taser-video-shows-rcmp-shocked-immigrant-within-25-seconds-of-their-arrival-1.652207 |archive-date=December 19, 2007}} Police were heavily criticized for their handling of the incident, and the incident has revived debate concerning police use of tasers in Canada. A public inquiry into the incident ruled Dziekański's death a homicide, and two of the officers were convicted of perjury for giving false statements to the inquiry regarding their actions in the incident.{{cite news |title=Supreme Court dismisses appeals of RCMP perjury convictions in Robert Dziekanski case |date=October 30, 2017 |newspaper=Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/10/30/supreme-court-dismisses-appeals-of-rcmp-perjury-convictions-in-robert-dziekanski-case.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520124454/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/10/30/supreme-court-dismisses-appeals-of-rcmp-perjury-convictions-in-robert-dziekanski-case.html |archivedate=May 20, 2018}}

Royal Inland Hospital taser incident

In May 2008, at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, an RCMP officer used a taser on 82-year-old Frank Lasser while he was in his hospital bed. He was reportedly "delirious" and wielding a knife.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/254480|title=Royal Canadian Mounted Police Taser Hospitalized 82-Year-Old Man|last=Duclos|first=Susan|date=May 9, 2008|work=Digital Journal|publisher=DigitalJournal.com|accessdate=27 November 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rcmp-subdue-hospitalized-man-82-with-taser-1.770386 |title=RCMP subdue hospitalized man, 82, with Taser |date=May 8, 2008 |work=CBC.ca |accessdate=27 November 2010 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628053758/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rcmp-subdue-hospitalized-man-82-with-taser-1.770386 |archive-date=June 28, 2010 }}

Allegation of political bias against Insite

In October 2008, it was revealed that the RCMP had used taxpayer money to pay individuals to write negative, politically biased reports about the Vancouver safe injection site, Insite. In addition to this, memos were distributed referring to British Columbia's Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS - a nationally renowned repository of some of the top AIDS research in the world - as the "Centre for Excrements", and suggesting stacking radio shows with callers against Insite.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081011.BCMASON11/TPStory/?query=rcmp+insite|title=Insite revelation proves RCMP needs watching|date=2008-10-11|work=The Globe and Mail|publisher=globeandmail.com|location=Toronto}} {{Dead link|date=April 2014|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}{{subscription required}}

Mountie takes woman home from jail

In 2011, a northern Manitoba RCMP officer took an intoxicated woman he had arrested out of a cell and to his home to "pursue a personal relationship." Several of his colleagues witnessed this but only two reported it. The constable admitted to the allegations, got a reprimand and lost pay for seven days. The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation has called for an independent investigation.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/mountie-takes-woman-home-from-jail-to-pursue-a-personal-relationship-1.2893487|title=RCMP officer goaded to see 'how far he would go' with female prisoner}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/aboriginal-leaders-demand-independent-probe-after-mountie-took-jailed-woman-home-1.2894768|title=Outraged aboriginal leaders want independent probe into Mountie's 'abuse of power'}}

Criticism from SCC on failure to protect wife who hired hitman

In January 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada criticized the RCMP for pursuing charges against Nicole Doucet Ryan (also known as Nicole Patricia Ryan) after she attempted to hire an undercover officer as a hitman to kill her husband.{{cite news| title=Abused woman in hit-man case 'relieved' no new trial |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/abused-woman-in-hit-man-case-relieved-no-new-trial-1.1317532| date=January 18, 2013 |publisher=CBC News|access-date=February 20, 2020}} The criticisms were based on her post-arrest courtroom allegations of abuse, which proved highly controversial since the judges based their decision and criticism entirely on her testimony that she had called the RCMP to report the abuse but received no help.{{CN|date=May 2024}} The former husband was never called to appear in court but refuted that he was abusive.{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/ex-husband-in-hit-man-case-says-courts-were-wrong-1.1401909 |title=Ex-husband in hit-man case says courts were wrong| publisher=CBC News |date=January 23, 2013 |access-date=February 20, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/01/21/nicole-ryan-michael-ryan/|title=See the husband in the Nova Scotia hitman case deny allegations he pursued a 'reign of terror' against his wife|date=22 January 2013}} After an internal investigation the RCMP stated that no allegations of abuse were ever brought forward by Nicole Ryan.{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/rcmp-deny-ignoring-abuse-allegations-in-hit-man-case-1.1333998 |title=RCMP deny ignoring abuse allegations in hit-man case |date=February 1, 2013| publisher=CBC News |accessdate=February 20, 2020}} On February 6, it was announced that The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police would investigate the allegations.{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/02/06/independent-watchdog-will-probe-if-rcmp-ignored-womans-calls-before-she-tried-to-hire-hitman-to-kill-husband/|title=Independent watchdog will probe if RCMP ignored woman's calls before she tried to hire hitman to kill husband|date=6 February 2013}}

High River weapons search

On June 21, 2013, High River, Alberta suffered major flooding; the residents were evacuated, and the town searched for anyone stranded. By June 24, High River RCMP reported to Edmonton that they had completed their search of every home in town, 3,337 in all. After June 24 the RCMP checked approximately 1900 homes for firearms. The check continued until July 10.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEQiCDYowi4 - Sun News documentary "Broken Trust" - YouTubehttp://www.torontosun.com/2014/04/11/kicking-down-doors-of-high-river-gun-controversy - column by Lorne Gunter; on the High River gun grab - Toronto Sun

Discrimination against women

=Janet Merlo claim of misconduct=

In 2007 Janet Merlo filed a claim of harassment and misconduct against the RCMP{{cite news|last1=Mason|first1=Gary|title=Former Mountie paints picture of near daily harassment|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/former-mountie-paints-picture-of-near-daily-harassment/article1357584/|accessdate=17 October 2015|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=6 September 2012|location=Toronto, Ontario, Canada}} stating that their continual abuse over a decade of service had led to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.{{cite news|last1=Fitzpatrick|first1=Ashley|title=Janet Merlo outlines sexual harassment claims against RCMP|url=http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2013-10-22/article-3436161/Janet-Merlo-outlines-sexual-harassment-claims-against-RCMP/1|accessdate=17 October 2015|newspaper=The Telegram|date=22 October 2013|location=Montreal, Quebec, Canada|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160117172210/http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2013-10-22/article-3436161/Janet-Merlo-outlines-sexual-harassment-claims-against-RCMP/1|archive-date=17 January 2016|url-status=dead}} In 2015, hearings were held to determine if her case should be elevated to a class action, as nearly 400 other women officers had asked to join it.{{cite news|last1=staff|title=RCMP systematically discriminated against women, lawyer says|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/rcmp-systematically-discriminated-against-women-lawyer-says-1.2401212|accessdate=17 October 2015|publisher=CTV News|date=1 June 2015}}

=Sherry Lee Benson-Podolchuk=

In 2007, Sherry Lee Benson-Podolchuk wrote and published Women Not Wanted, which detailed her experiences with frequent harassment during her 20-year career as the sole female officer in the Prairie region at the time. Benson-Podolchuk sued the RCMP, eventually settling out of court in 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/in-the-rcmp-women-not-wanted/article1357586/|title=In the RCMP, women not wanted|author=Gary Mason|date=2018-09-05|newspaper=The Globe and Mail}}{{cite web|url=https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/it-only-takes-one-person-advocate-hopes-movement-against-harassment-continues-to-grow-1.3681865|title='It only takes one person': Advocate hopes movement against harassment continues to grow|author=Gabrielle Marchand|date=2017-11-16|publisher=CTV News Winnipeg}}

=Catherine Galliford claim of sexual harassment=

In November 2011, Corporal Catherine Galliford, a former spokeswoman for the British Columbia Division, came forward with a claim that she had been the victim of sexual harassment by senior officers as far back as 1991, when she graduated from the RCMP Academy.{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-mountie-alleges-years-of-sexual-harassment-1.1034369|title=B.C. Mountie alleges years of sexual harassment|date=2011-11-07|access-date=2011-11-24|publisher=CBC.ca}}

=Sexual harassment settlements=

In October 2016, RCMP commissioner Bob Paulson apologized for what he referred to as "shameful conduct" by the organization. An internal investigation determined that up to 20,000 female officers and civilian employees since 1974, may have been the victim of harassment, discrimination, and/or sexual abuse. Additionally, the organization has set aside a $100 million compensation fund for victims.{{cite web|last1=Harris|first1=Kathleen|title=RCMP could pay up to $100M to female employees who were sexually harassed, abused|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-paulson-compensation-harassment-1.3793785|website=CBC News|accessdate=6 October 2016}} They did not however address the matter of SSgt Caroline O’Farrell, who brought a separate suit due to her treatment while part of the iconic Musical Ride in the late 1980s.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-monday-edition-1.3808574/mountie-who-says-colleagues-bet-on-when-she-d-commit-suicide-left-in-limbo-after-rcmp-apology-1.3808577|title=Mountie who says colleagues bet on when she'd commit suicide left in limbo after RCMP apology|newspaper=CBC Radio|access-date=2016-10-17}}

On July 8, 2019 the National Post announced that a $100 million settlement was reached in a class-action lawsuit against the RCMP for sexual harassment.{{cite news |last1=Canada |first1=P. M. N. |title=Settlement reached in class-action harassment lawsuit against RCMP {{!}} National Post |newspaper=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/settlement-reached-in-class-action-harassment-lawsuit-against-rcmp |language=en-CA |date=8 July 2019}} The Federal Government of Canada and the RCMP have entered into a Settlement Agreement in the Tiller et al., vs Her Majesty the Queen (Federal Court File Number T-1673-17) to compensate qualified claimants who have been subjected to the gender or sexual orientation based discrimination and/or harassment. The previous similar 2017 Merlo and Davidson Class Action Settlement only compensated female members and a limited number of public servants.{{cite web |last1=Higgerty |first1=Patrick B. |title=RCMP Class Action Settlement announced July 8, 2019 |url=https://higgertylaw.ca/class-action-lawsuits/new-rcmp-class-action-settlement/ |website=Higgerty Law, a Calgary Class Action, Litigation, Personal Injury and Immigration Law Firm |accessdate=12 July 2019 |archive-date=12 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712042626/https://higgertylaw.ca/class-action-lawsuits/new-rcmp-class-action-settlement/ |url-status=dead }} Compensation for proven claims over the 45-year period would range from $10,000 to $222,000 each.{{cite web |title=New $100M settlement reached in RCMP sexual harassment case |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rcmp-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-100-million-settlement-1.5203683 |website=CBC News |accessdate=12 July 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Law |first1=Higgerty |title=RCMP Class Action for female sexual harassment {{!}} through Higgerty Law |url=http://newrcmpclassaction.ca/ |website=New RCMP Class Action Settlement |accessdate=21 July 2019 |language=en-CA }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The 2016 settlement for $100 million covered female officers who had been sexually harassed in the RCMP since September 1974. A second settlement in 2019 for $100 million was for women in non-policing roles at the RCMP. According to the CBC in 2019, around 2,500 women were expected to claim claims under both of the settlements. The payouts are only allowed for living officers, with payments denied to the families of Mounties who had committed suicide since coming forward about the harassment.{{cite news |title=Family of RCMP officer denied compensation from class action lawsuit following her death |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/krista-carle-rcmp-claim-1.5358819 |date=November 13, 2019 |publisher=CBC News|accessdate=February 20, 2020}}

Animal abuse

In 2017, allegations of animal abuse against horses used for the RCMP Musical Ride emerged. Following the allegations, the riding master conducting the musical rides, Mike Côté was removed from his post and restricted to administrative duties. This revived previous allegations going back as far as 2004 that the officer severely beat a horse until it was bleeding, punching another horse and ramming another into a wall. Other previous claims of public concerns were cited that he was promoted to a horse master.{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/rcmp-officer-removed-from-musical-ride-over-horse-abuse-allegations-1.3313691|title=RCMP officer removed from Musical Ride over horse abuse allegations|date=6 March 2017}}

Four years earlier, Staff Sgt. Caroline O’Farrell filed a lawsuit against thirteen colleagues in the musical ride alleging physical and sexual abuse.{{cite web|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/rcmp-riding-master-reassigned-following-horse-abuse-allegations|title=RCMP riding master reassigned following horse abuse allegations|date=9 March 2017}}

Kinder Morgan pipeline in Canada

During early stages of the construction of the controversial Kinder Morgan pipeline which was met by massive protests and physical resistance, the RCMP was brought in to disperse them. This resulted in a number of arrests.{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/03/17/news/burnaby-rcmp-arrest-protesters-violating-kinder-morgan-injunction|title=Burnaby RCMP arrest protesters for violating Kinder Morgan injunction|date=17 March 2018}} Amongst those arrested were Member of Parliament Elizabeth May{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4115938/kinder-morgan-protester-arrest/|title=Anti-Kinder Morgan protester arrested for allegedly assaulting an RCMP officer}} and Tamo Campos, grandson of David Suzuki, which the activist made a speech against, and criticized the RCMP's actions.{{cite web|url=https://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/david-suzuki-burnaby-mountain-support-kinder-morgan-protest|title=David Suzuki gives fiery speech at Kinder Morgan protest (VIDEO) - Vancouver Observer|website=www.vancouverobserver.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/11/23/david-suzuki-letter-tamo-campos_n_6206360.html|title=David Suzuki Writes Letter In Support Of Grandson Who Was Arrested At Kinder Morgan Protest|date=23 November 2014}}

Opponents of the Kinder Morgan pipeline alleged that the RCMP deliberately targeted them for arrests.

Homophobia

On November 11, 2020 the Honourable Michel Bastarache, C.C. Q.C. Independent Assessor, released his report Broken Dreams Broken Lives.https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/wam/media/4773/original/8032a32ad5dd014db5b135ce3753934d.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}{{cite web |title=RCMP tolerates 'misogynistic, racist, and homophobic attitudes:' former Supreme Court justice |date=2020-11-20 |website=CBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714035324/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-merlo-davidson-final-report-1.5807022 |archive-date=2023-07-14 |url-status=live |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-merlo-davidson-final-report-1.5807022}}{{cite web | url=https://rabble.ca/feminism/explosive-report-reveals-rcmps-toxic-culture-racism-misogyny-and-homophobia/ | title=Explosive report reveals RCMP's toxic culture of racism, misogyny and homophobia | date=4 December 2020 }} In it Bastarache wrote "What I learned led me to conclude that a toxic culture prevails in the RCMP. This culture encourages, or at least tolerates, misogynistic, racist and homophobic attitudes among many members of the RCMP."

2020 Nova Scotia attacks

On April 18 and 19, 2020, 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman committed multiple shootings and set fires at 16 locations in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, killing 22{{cite web |last=Grant |first=Taryn |date=April 21, 2020 |title=22 victims confirmed dead in N.S. mass shooting |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/portapique-shooting-memorials-april-21-1.5539894 |access-date=April 21, 2020 |publisher=CBC News}} people, and injuring three others before he was shot and killed by the RCMP) in the community of Enfield.{{Cite news |date=April 24, 2020 |title=Gunman's resemblance to police officer made chase dangerous and complicated, says RCMP |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mass-shooting-rcmp-investigation-press-conference-live-1.5542859 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424210310/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mass-shooting-rcmp-investigation-press-conference-live-1.5542859 |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |website=CBC News}}{{cite news |date=April 20, 2020 |title=22 victims of N.S. rampage include retirees, pregnant health care worker, veteran |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mass-killing-shooting-victims-remembered-1.5538032 |access-date=April 21, 2020 |website=CBC News}} The attacks are the deadliest shooting rampage in Canadian history, exceeding the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, where 14 women were killed.{{cite news |last=Gillies |first=Rob |date=April 19, 2020 |title=16 killed in shooting rampage, deadliest in Canadian history |url=https://apnews.com/7c9a33ae52420e0ddbfb5275898a7e79 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419202425/https://apnews.com/7c9a33ae52420e0ddbfb5275898a7e79 |archive-date=April 19, 2020 |access-date=April 19, 2020 |website=AP News}}

The families of the victims, as well as the residents of Portapique, strongly condemned the RCMP's response to the attacks, as well as their transparency in the criminal investigation. Police were criticized for not using Alert Ready to warn the public about the unfolding attacks, as well as not responding to reports of Wortman's previous behaviour and acts of violence.{{cite news |last=Tasker |first=John Paul |date=April 21, 2020 |title=Questions emerge about RCMP's failure to send emergency alert on gunman's rampage |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/questions-remain-rcmp-ns-emergency-alert-1.5540100 |access-date=April 21, 2020 |website=CBC News}} An investigation into law enforcement's response to the rampage, including the decision not to use Alert Ready, was launched.{{cite news |last=Gorman |first=Michael |date=April 20, 2020 |title=N.S. premier not ready to question if a public alert should have been issued about gunman |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/ns-public-alert-1.5538286 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421083535/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/ns-public-alert-1.5538286 |archive-date=April 21, 2020 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |website=CBC News}}{{cite news |last=Gatehouse |first=Jonathon |date=April 25, 2020 |title=N.S. gunman's 'advantage': Hours passed before RCMP told public he was disguised as one of them |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/rcmp-information-gap-nova-scotia-killer-1.5544744 |access-date=April 25, 2020 |website=CBC News}}{{cite news |last=Ankel |first=Sophia |date=May 16, 2020 |title=Evidence mounts that Canada's worst-ever mass shooter was a woman-hater and misogyny fuelled his killing spree that left 22 dead |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ex-neighbor-nova-scotia-gunman-said-she-reported-domestic-violence-2020-5 |access-date=May 24, 2020 |publisher=Business Insider}} A public inquiry into the law enforcement response was declared on July 28, 2020, following escalating criticism of the investigation's lack of transparency.{{cite news |last=MacDonald |first=Michael |date=July 28, 2020 |title=Ottawa announces full inquiry into N.S. shootings |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-nova-scotia-justice-minister-says-he-now-supports-a-joint-public/ |access-date=July 28, 2020 |work=The Globe and Mail}}

CBC News' television program The Fifth Estate and online newspaper Halifax Examiner analyzed the timeline of events, and both observed a myriad of failures and shortcomings in the RCMP response.{{cite news |last1=McMillan |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Mayor |first2=Lisa |date=November 22, 2020 |title=13 deadly hours |url=https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/nova-scotia-shooting-13-deadly-hours |access-date=November 23, 2020 |publisher=CBC News}}{{cite news |date=April 21, 2020 |title=Growing criticism over how Nova Scotia RCMP warned public about killer |url=https://globalnews.ca/video/6850607/growing-criticism-over-how-nova-scotia-rcmp-warned-public-about-killer/ |access-date=November 24, 2020 |publisher=Global News}}{{cite web |last=Palango |first=Paul |date=July 18, 2020 |title='An epic failure': The first duty of police is to preserve life; through the Nova Scotia massacre, the RCMP saved no one |url=https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/an-epic-failure-the-first-duty-of-police-is-to-preserve-life-through-the-nova-scotia-massacre-the-rcmp-saved-no-one/ |access-date=November 24, 2020 |publisher=Halifax Examiner}} A criminologist criticised the RCMP's response as "a mess" and called for an overhaul in how the agency responds to active shooter situations, citing its failure to properly respond to other such incidents in the past.{{cite news |last1=Leffler |first1=Brennan |last2=Lord |first2=Ross |date=December 12, 2020 |title=Emotional aftermath: families of victims in Nova Scotia shooting struggle to heal |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7514276/nova-scotia-shooting-victim-families-struggle-heal/ |access-date=December 14, 2020 |publisher=Global News}}