OTTAWA -- RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson, who delivered a tearful apology to hundreds of female RCMP members who allege they were harassed, abused and sexually assaulted, previously dismissed some of their claims as "outlandish."
In 2013, Paulson appeared in front of a Senate committee tasked with studying sexual harassment in the RCMP, and was critical of female RCMP members who alleged harassment.
"I cannot be continually defending against outlandish claims that have not been tested or established but yet are being put forward as though they are gospel and representative of the modern workplace experience of the RCMP, because they are not," said Paulson in front of the Senate committee on National Security and Defence on June 3, 2013.
These comments stand in stark contrast to Paulson’s press conference last Thursday. Paulson apologized to the women in the force and announced the $100-million settlement of two class-action lawsuits against the Mounties, in which some allegations date back to September 1974.
"To all the women, I stand humbly before you today and solemnly offer our sincere apology," said Paulson, as he tried to hold back tears.
"You came to the RCMP wanting to personally contribute to your community and we failed you. We hurt you. For that, I am truly sorry."
Paulson declined an interview request with CTV's Question Period. An initial statement didn't address whether he stood by the statements made in 2013. On Sunday, the RCMP sent an additional statement.
"Recent reports by CTV News that I dismissed 300 harassment claims as 'outlandish' at a 2013 Senate committee appearance are categorically false," Paulson said.
"An examination of the entire public transcript will reveal that in my opening remarks, I cited three cases where the claims of complainants (two male and one female) were being reported as matters of fact or omitted key details. I was expressing concern over having to publicly defend against some claims that had not been tested or established. Furthermore, to infer that my recent apology was anything short of sincere is deeply offensive to me."
'Ambitions exceeded their abilities'
In 2013, when Paulson testified in front of the Senate committee, the RCMP knew of at least 300 claims from current and former RCMP members against the force. In a prepared opening statement, Paulson claimed many of the complaints came from women who lacked the talent to be promoted.
Read the full committee transcript
"Let us face it. Some people's ambitions exceed their abilities. I cannot lead a force that accommodates and seeks to compensate people for those unachieved ambitions,' said Paulson.
In an exchange with Liberal Senator Grant Mitchell at the Senate committee, Paulson even denied knowing about the number of complaints and the class-action lawsuit involving 300 current and former RCMP members.
'Senator, we do not attack those people in public, and I do not know of the hundreds of complainants you refer to. We have had discussions with counsel for the class action lawsuit," said Paulson.
Paulson also added that he believed the complaints were playing "a game of cat and mouse" with the RCMP.
On Thursday, Liberal MP Judy Sgro said for the five years she has worked on this issue, she has received push back from the RCMP.
"There was continual denial that these women were making up their stories, were over sensitive or maybe they shouldn’t have chosen the RCMP," Sgro told Evan Solomon, host of CTV's Question Period, in an interview with CFRA’s Ottawa Now.
Sgro credits the change in government for Paulson's transformation on the issue.
"[Paulson] was finally forced to admit that we have a serious problem. When you have a class-action lawsuit, two of them, with over 500 women, you can’t dismiss this and sweep it under the rug."
On a panel on CTV's Question Period, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said she's met with Paulson regarding sexual harassment problems in the RCMP.
"Charitably, I could say that he didn't understand how bad it was," she said.
The women who were forced on leave over the ramifications of daily humiliation were good officers, she said.
"We need them in the force and we need their harassers fired," May said.
With files from The Canadian Press
This story has been modified to reflect Commissioner Paulson's assertion he was referring to some claims as outlandish.
Read the full text of RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson’s statement to CTV News:
"Recent reports by CTV News that I dismissed 300 harassment claims as 'outlandish' at a 2013 Senate committee appearance are categorically false. An examination of the entire public transcript will reveal that in my opening remarks, I cited three cases where the claims of complainants (two male and one female) were being reported as matters of fact or omitted key details. I was expressing concern over having to publicly defend against some claims that had not been tested or established. Furthermore, to infer that my recent apology was anything short of sincere is deeply offensive to me. What I offered on Thursday was an unequivocal apology to all women who have ever suffered harassment as employees of the RCMP and some degree of compensation for what they endured. This will be determined by an independent administrator who will examine the facts of each case. The restorative settlement and my apology acknowledge all the past cases of gender harassment in the RCMP so we can turn the page to a better organization for the future and focus on keeping Canadians safe and secure. I expect CTV to correct the record."
