Former RCMP officer gets $1-million harassment settlement
Last Updated: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 | 7:04 PM ET
CBC News
Related
Internal Links
The Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled that Nancy Sulz was harassed by her superiors after taking maternity leave. Sulz says the RCMP's own review of the case made matters even worse.
Sulz said the problems at her detachment in Merritt, B.C., started when she was forced to take time off work due to complications with a pregnancy.
The court found Staff Sgt. Donald Smith and two other officers made humiliating and unfair comments about her, to her face and to fellow officers. "Ultimately it ended up with other members not trusting me and made it very difficult for me to do my job," said Sulz.
Sulz says the harassment was bad enough, but then the RCMP terminated her job even though an internal review found she was the victim of harassment. She said that, in effect, the Mounties were telling her "too bad, you're out anyway. We're not going to take any steps to rectify the situation or help you get back to work. We're just going to get rid of you."
Ten years after she filed the complaint, Sulz has been awarded $950,000 in damages. She hopes the punishing award - believed to be the highest harassment award ever made against the RCMP by a Canadian court - will convince the RCMP to change its ways.
"I would hope they take everything much more seriously and deal with the offender rather than punish the victim."
The RCMP has 30 days to appeal the verdict.
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The husband of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest on Saturday says his family is not seeking government help to cover the cost of bringing his wife's body home. more »
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- B.C. Premier Christy Clark says she is not happy with the RCMP decision to transfer a disgraced Alberta Mountie to the West Coast. more »
- Henrique's OT goal sends Devils into Stanley Cup final
- The New Jersey Devils will vie for a potential fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history after defeating the New York Rangers in six games in the Eastern final, courtesy of rookie Adam Henrique's goal early in overtime. more »
- Employment Insurance review boards to be scrapped
- The federal government is scrapping two review boards used by people appealing decisions made about their employment insurance. more »
Latest Canada News Headlines
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- The estranged partner of a young mother who was stabbed to death along with her parents at their home in Aylmer, Que., has been charged with first-degree murder Friday. more »
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- B.C. Premier Christy Clark says she is not happy with the RCMP decision to transfer a disgraced Alberta Mountie to the West Coast. more »
- Forest fires still burning near Timmins, Ont.
- A new forest fire is burning north of Highway 101 near Timmins, Ont., creating a new challenge for firefighters who have been working to contain another fire in the area. more »
- RCMP to close labs in Halifax, Winnipeg, Regina
- The RCMP is closing forensic laboratories in Halifax, Winnipeg and Regina and consolidating them with three others in a move the force says will lead to faster, more efficient service. more »
The National
The Current
- What does it take to get fired at the RCMP? May. 25, 2012 5:02 PM After a senior Mountie was demoted for disgraceful conduct including sex with subordinates, exposing himself and drinking on the job, some former employees wonder what you have to do to get fired.
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- Third B.C. salmon farm quarantined
- What a Greek euro exit could mean for Canada
- RCMP officer charged in fatal crash
- Canada ending 'Buffalo shuffle' for visas, closing consulate
- Reclaiming the dead on Mt. Everest
- Employment Insurance review boards to be scrapped
