RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson surprised a lot of people yesterday with candid comments in front of a Senate committee about people suing the Mounties.
Paulson singled out several plaintiffs, including an Ottawa Mountie who is suing the force for sexual assault, suggesting he tried to help and all she wanted to do was go to court.
The Commissioner's blunt comments in the Senate Committee yesterday took many of the Senators by surprise. But for the woman who has come forward with complaints of abuse, her lawyer says she felt violated yet again. RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson says he doesn't dispute what happened to Staff Sergeant Caroline O'Farrell years ago when she was a member of the RCMP Musical Ride.
But Paulson told the Senate Committee examining harassment on the force that her allegations were dealt with and members disciplined.
"I asked her what I, what we could do to help her, Paulson told the committee. “She didn't want our help. She only handed me her statement of claim ahead of it being filed.”
O'Farrell is suing the RCMP and 13 former colleagues of the Musical Ride for more than $8 million dollars, alleging repeated hazing, sexual assault and months of abuse. She says her complaints were dismissed back then and feels the Commissioner has dismissed them yet again.
"My client was essentially thrown under the bus in 1986-87 when these events unfolded,” says O’Farrell’s lawyer Peter Cronyn, “and the impression I had yesterday was that she was thrown under the bus again. Nothing seems to have changed.”
Paulson publicly named two other members who have come forward with allegations. His blunt comments even shocked some committee members.
"What sort of message do you think that sends to people who maybe have a complaint to put forward,” questioned Liberal Senator Grant Mitchell, “but they see that they can be publically singled out in a very, very public environment.”
“It’s hard to have any hope for any real change in the RCMP at this point,” says Cronyn.
Paulson is legally protected over what he says inside that Senate Committee. O'Farrell's lawyer though says if the Commissioner repeats it outside Parliament, he may be looking into the possibility of defamation of character.
