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Federal government wants court to toss out human rights decision against RCMP

On Tuesday, the Attorney General of Canada filed a court application seeking to overturn a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal decision that awarded compensation for alleged RCMP discrimination during a historical abuse investigation.
This legal challenge stems from a 2017 complaint by Lake Babine First Nation members, who alleged the RCMP engaged in discriminatory conduct while investigating historical abuse by a teacher in Burns Lake, B.C.
Directives issued by the tribunal last month require the RCMP to review policies regarding "Indigenous crime complainants in historical abuse investigations," though the federal government argues police investigations are not a "service" covered by the Canadian Human Rights Act.
The tribunal awarded $7,500 plus interest to complainants and witnesses, a decision the Attorney General claims is invalid because the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission is the "proper forum" for such discrimination complaints.
Arguing that criminal investigations function in the public interest, the Attorney General contends the tribunal "misinterpreted and misapplied" legislation, while complainants' counsel has not yet responded to the judicial review.

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Federal government wants court to toss out human rights decision against RCMP in Burns Lake, B.C.

The federal government says the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal wrongfully awarded compensation to both complainants and witnesses who claimed discrimination by the RCMP in an investigation of historical sexual abuse allegations against a school teacher in Burns Lake, B.C.

10 hours ago·Canada

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