logo
'Toxic environment' and favouritism plague RCMP watchdog, review finds

'Toxic environment' and favouritism plague RCMP watchdog, review finds

National Post4 days ago
An independent assessment of the RCMP watchdog, prompted by an anonymous email from employees, uncovered concerns about favouritism, a lack of transparency, heavy workloads and 'a toxic environment.'
Article content
The workplace assessment of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP found 'a clear call for change and action at the leadership level to restore credibility and trust within the organization.'
Article content
Article content
The Canadian Press recently obtained a copy of the May 2024 assessment, almost six months after filing an Access to Information request with Public Safety Canada, which ordered the report.
Article content
Article content
The Ottawa-based review commission is an independent agency created by Parliament to ensure public complaints about the conduct of RCMP members are examined fairly and impartially.
Article content
In a June 2024 note to Public Safety summarizing his findings, Neron said the anonymous email had alleged the review commission was in total disarray because of a lack of leadership from the commission chairperson.
Article content
Michelaine Lahaie was serving in the role at that time.
Article content
Neron's summary, heavily redacted before release under the access law, rejected the pointed allegation against the chairperson — a conclusion he reached after interviewing commission employees, including Lahaie, and circulating a detailed questionnaire to staff.
Article content
Article content
Neron found employees generally felt engaged with their work and that most believed leadership treated them fairly and provided constructive feedback.
Article content
Article content
The report says a significant number felt overwhelmed by their workloads, causing stress and making them less satisfied with their jobs.
Article content
It cites a 'notable communication gap' between the leadership and staff, with many employees saying organizational messaging was too infrequent and lacked clarity and consistency.
Article content
The report says feedback from employees on methods of resolving conflict was mixed, 'with a distinct portion of the workforce feeling unsupported.'
Article content
There were also multiple complaints of 'a toxic work environment' due to the behaviour and practices of leadership.
Article content
'The staff expresses a strong desire to address and resolve this toxic environment,' the report says. 'They seek an anonymous reporting system to report workplace misconduct, especially involving senior managers.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

LeBlanc ‘encouraged' after meeting with Lutnick, lawmakers ahead of tariff deadline
LeBlanc ‘encouraged' after meeting with Lutnick, lawmakers ahead of tariff deadline

Toronto Star

time24 minutes ago

  • Toronto Star

LeBlanc ‘encouraged' after meeting with Lutnick, lawmakers ahead of tariff deadline

WASHINGTON - Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he's feeling 'encouraged' after meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and American lawmakers in Washington, D.C., ahead of next week's tariff deadline. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to slap Canada with 35 per cent tariffs if there's not a deal by Aug. 1 but the White House has said it would not include goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade.

LeBlanc ‘encouraged' after meeting with Lutnick,  lawmakers ahead of tariff deadline
LeBlanc ‘encouraged' after meeting with Lutnick,  lawmakers ahead of tariff deadline

Winnipeg Free Press

time24 minutes ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

LeBlanc ‘encouraged' after meeting with Lutnick, lawmakers ahead of tariff deadline

WASHINGTON – Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he's feeling 'encouraged' after meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and American lawmakers in Washington, D.C., ahead of next week's tariff deadline. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to slap Canada with 35 per cent tariffs if there's not a deal by Aug. 1 but the White House has said it would not include goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement on trade. Canada is also being hit with Trump's tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles, and will be impacted by copper tariffs that are also expected to kick in on Aug. 1. LeBlanc says Ottawa will take the time necessary to get the best deal in the interest of Canadians, indicating a new economic and security arrangement may not materialize by Trump's deadline. LeBlanc says he will return to Washington next week for additional meetings. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she's hopeful for a return to normal relations with Canada but doesn't sense there will be a deal before Trump's deadline. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025.

Canada's trade team downplays chances of deal with Trump by Aug. 1
Canada's trade team downplays chances of deal with Trump by Aug. 1

CBC

time25 minutes ago

  • CBC

Canada's trade team downplays chances of deal with Trump by Aug. 1

Social Sharing With the clock ticking on U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to boost tariffs on some Canadian exports to 35 per cent starting Aug. 1, Canada's top trade negotiators are downplaying the likelihood of reaching a deal by that deadline. Dominic LeBlanc, minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, and Canada's ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, wrapped up two days of meetings with Republican senators. These included a brief sit-down between LeBlanc and Howard Lutnick, the U.S. secretary of commerce and Trump's point man on tariffs. "We've made progress, but we have a lot of work in front of us," LeBlanc told reporters outside a Senate office building on Thursday. LeBlanc said he had a "productive, cordial discussion" with Lutnick and plans to return to Washington next week. He also added some caveats about the path to reaching a deal. "We're going to continue to work toward the Aug. 1 deadline,' he said. "But all of these deadlines are with the understanding that we'll take the time necessary to get the best deal that we think is in the interest of the Canadian economy and Canadian workers." Hillman, who was appointed Canada's chief negotiator with the U.S., also suggested an agreement with the Trump administration is not imminent. WATCH | Dominic LeBlanc speaks after meeting Trump's point man on tariffs: 'Canadians expect us to take the time necessary' to reach a U.S. trade deal: LeBlanc 1 hour ago Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., said Canada will only accept a deal when there is one in the best interest of workers and the Canadian economy on the table. "It's important for us to recognize that there is a time when the deal is the right deal, and it's important for us to be in a position to continue negotiating until we get to that point," she said. Their comments are the latest evidence that Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is not in a rush to sign a deal with the U.S. Carney said Tuesday that his objective is " not to reach a deal whatever it costs." Following Carney's meeting with Canada's premiers earlier this week, Nova Scotia's Tim Houston said the prime minister isn't dead set on signing a deal by the deadline. Other countries reach tariff deals with Trump This comes amid Trump's announcements this week of framework agreements on tariffs struck with Japan and Indonesia, and reports the U.S. is closing in on a deal with the European Union. Canada may be less panicked than other trading partners about the Aug. 1 deadline because only a small portion of Canada's exports to the U.S. would be affected by Trump's threat of 35 per cent tariffs. That's because most goods enter the U.S. tariff-free under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, or CUSMA. Officials say LeBlanc and Hillman met with five Republican senators in Washington: Kevin Cramer (North Dakota), Roger Marshall (Kansas), Shelley Moore Capito (West Virginia), Tim Scott (South Carolina) and Todd Young (Indiana). Another Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, told reporters in Washington on Thursday that the U.S. shares a lot of security and economic interests with Canada and shouldn't treat it as "just another country" when it comes to tariffs. " I wish that I could say it feels good, that this is all going to be taken care of before the first of August, but I'm not sensing that," said Murkowski, who visited Ottawa on Monday to meet Carney and some of his cabinet ministers

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store