SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT OF THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF CANADA

In the wake of shocking accounts of sexual harassment and abuse against female RCMP officers, a motion was presented to conduct a study on Sexual Harassment in the RCMP through the Status of Women Committee. Instead of focusing on the RCMP the committee undertook a general study of sexual harassment in the federal workplace. While we believe that this study is important in its own right, we are concerned that the gender based violence afflicting women in the RCMP has not been thoroughly examined by the committee.

Although several female officers and ex-officers were willing to come forward to testify before the committee, we heard from only one survivor of sexual harassment in the RCMP.  Furthermore, only one meeting was spent hearing from RCMP officials. Through the limited witness testimony we heard regarding the RCMP, we learned that there are systemic issues within the federal police force that require investigation and action. Astonishingly, in spite of hearing this testimony, the report tabled does not include a single recommendation relating directly to the RCMP.

As parliamentarians, we are responsible for the RCMP and we find this report and subsequent recommendations to be insufficient. It is our recommendation, therefore, that the Status of Women Committee move to conduct a comprehensive study on sexual harassment in the RCMP in order to complete the task of ending the widespread harassment suffered by women in the RCMP.  

The New Democrat Members of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women are concerned, as well, that the final recommendations attached to the report Sexual Harassment in the Federal Workplace do not reflect the scope of the testimony heard from the 40 witnesses who testified before the committee. The committee heard about widespread barriers that prevent Canadian women and girls in the workforce from participating in the workforce. While New Democrats agree with the recommendations that are listed throughout this report, we find that many of the recommendations heard by expert witnesses are markedly absent from the report tabled.

Listed below are recommendations heard by witnesses that, when implemented, would considerably decrease the incidents of sexual harassment in federally regulated workplaces.

Leadership and Prevention

When attempting to identify the incidence and prevalence of sexual harassment in the federal workplace the committee was repeatedly confronted with a lack of information. As well, we found, in spite of a policy from treasury board, a lack of consistency between agencies, departments and other workplaces such as the Canadian Forces, Foreign Services and the Parliament of Canada. What is clearly lacking is coordinated leadership from the federal level. Therefore New Democrats recommend that Status of Women Canada work with the Government of Canada to develop a national action plan on violence against women, that would also address sexual harassment and violence in the workplace. As well, we believe that Status of Women Canada should take the lead in working with experts in order to study the extent of under-reporting in the federal and federally regulated workplace.

The committee heard that workplace culture, particularly in male dominated, hierarchical organizations such the Department of National Defence and the RCMP,  presents a significant barrier to reporting and preventing sexual harassment and discrimination.  Therefore, New Democrats also recommend that Status of Women Canada partner with federal and federally regulated workplaces to increase the number of women in managerial positions and positions of power, including establishing benchmarks and goals, to help promote a workplace reflective of a society that does not accept harassment, including sexual harassment.

Data Collection

A complete lack of data regarding the presence of sexual harassment in most federal workplaces was uncovered by the committee. The Public Service Employee Survey asked about harassment in general and found that far more workers experienced harassment than were reporting it. We can only speculate about what percentage of that harassment is sexual in nature. As well, we are concerned by the knowledge that harassment of all sorts is underreported. Therefore New Democrats recommend that the Status of Women Canada work with Statistics Canada to take the lead in establishing a framework whereby consistent data on sexual harassment could be collected by all workplaces, and compared accordingly.

We believe that specific questions on sexual harassment should be included in the next Public Service Employee Survey to determine the following: to identify and understand the extent of the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace, if and why there is an under-reporting of sexual harassment; the effectiveness of the processes in place, and the outcomes of harassment cases and settlements.

As well, we take note of the fact that members of the military are not given the Public Sector Employee Survey. Therefore, New Democrats recommend that employees of the Canadian Forces participate in the survey or establish an equivalent one of their own that includes information about sexual harassment and assault.

New Democrats note with concern that the last time Statistics Canada undertook a national survey to collect data on Violence Against Women was in 1993. We recommend that a follow up survey be conducted and that Status of Women Canada use the information to establish a baseline understanding of sexual harassment in the workplace in Canada.   

Cuts to the Public Service

Public Sector cuts on behalf of the Conservative government have created workplace conditions in which women do not feel that their jobs are secure enough to risk reporting harassment. The committee heard that precarious employment in the public sector is growing since 20,000 were cut from the public sector since 2006. Some women fear losing their jobs for reporting against their superiors, in the context of staff downsizing.

New Democrats therefore recommend that Status of Women Canada study the impact of job insecurity, including recent and pending budget cuts, on sexual harassment and the possible under-reporting of sexual harassment.

Usefulness

New Democrats and other committee members were given the impression that the study would help direct the work of Status of Women. We are concerned that in spite of the study’s mandate to directly influence the Status of Women agency, only three of the recommendations in the report directly involve Status of Women Canada.

New Democrats note with concern that reports previously tabled by this committee have had little effect on the actions of the current government. We are led to question the value of this committee’s work in the eyes of the government and recommend that the committee undertake the task of following up on the recommendations laid out in this report in one year’s time.