The Trudeau government has directed the new top Mountie to modernize and reform the RCMP91裸聊视频檚 culture, protect employees from harassment and workplace violence, and foster reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
The government also wants Commissioner Brenda Lucki to make the national police force representative of Canada91裸聊视频檚 diverse population by embracing gender parity and ensuring that women, Indigenous members and minority groups are better reflected in positions of leadership.
91裸聊视频淚t is important that Canadians see themselves reflected in the people that police them,91裸聊视频� says a newly released mandate letter to Lucki from Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, the cabinet member responsible for the Mounties.
91裸聊视频淭he RCMP must be a modern organization that reflects Canadian values and culture, and has the trust, confidence and the enthusiastic support of the people they serve.91裸聊视频�
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The letter says another priority will be implementing measures to improve health and wellness in the RCMP after an auditor91裸聊视频檚 report found the force was failing to meet the mental-health needs of its members due to a lack of resources, poor monitoring and meagre support from supervisors.
Lucki, 53, took the reins of the storied police force on April 16, becoming the 24th RCMP commissioner and the first permanent female boss.
She inherits a force still grappling with ingrained problems of bullying and harassment.
A year and a half ago, her predecessor, Bob Paulson, delivered an apology to hundreds of current and former female officers and employees who were subjected to discrimination and harassment dating back as far as four decades.
The words of regret came as the force settled class-action lawsuits stemming from allegations that cast a dark pall over it.
Lucki is often asked if she91裸聊视频檚 going to fix the problem, a question that makes her bristle because she doesn91裸聊视频檛 think things are necessarily broken.
91裸聊视频淧eople don91裸聊视频檛 come to work and say they91裸聊视频檙e going to bully somebody or harass somebody. It91裸聊视频檚 not that black and white. So we have to figure out what the root causes are and try to get to that,91裸聊视频� she said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
91裸聊视频淚 need every employee in the RCMP to own that, and have the courage not only to be accountable for themselves, but to have the courage to be accountable to others, for others, and say, that91裸聊视频檚 unacceptable and take a stand. Because otherwise we won91裸聊视频檛 change.91裸聊视频�
Asked if she has personally experienced bullying or harassment, she answered obliquely.
91裸聊视频淚 would be remiss if I didn91裸聊视频檛 say that not everything has been perfect. But I think in general I91裸聊视频檝e had a great career and I always say, whatever doesn91裸聊视频檛 kill you makes you stronger,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淪o I think it helps me be a better leader and more empathetic. Of course, I91裸聊视频檝e dealt with situations that weren91裸聊视频檛 completely comfortable, but I91裸聊视频檝e dealt with them.91裸聊视频�
At the same, Lucki stresses the importance of learning lessons from the force91裸聊视频檚 experiences with harassment.
91裸聊视频淲e won91裸聊视频檛 eliminate it, but we do need to educate people on that and make sure they know what is acceptable and unacceptable.91裸聊视频�
A desire to serve the public drew Lucki to policing. Her RCMP career of almost 32 years has been varied and full of challenges, including time in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Lucki was applauded for her efforts in northern Manitoba to improve the force91裸聊视频檚 relationship with Indigenous communities, where one of the elders took her under his wing.
91裸聊视频淚 know that I learned a lot more than they learned from me.91裸聊视频�
Transparency, accountability and communicating clearly are the keys to building trust, she said. 91裸聊视频漎ou can91裸聊视频檛 build a relationship overnight. It takes time to trust, it takes time to build those relationships.91裸聊视频�
Lucki has also worked with the United Nations in the fractured former Yugoslavia, and helped train and select units for a UN police mission in Haiti.
Since October 2016, she has served in Regina as the commanding officer of 91裸聊视频淒epot91裸聊视频� Division, where cadets are put through their paces.
An avid golfer, she and her husband enjoy woodworking projects, though she once said they91裸聊视频檙e mostly good at making sawdust.
Lucki holds a degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Alberta, and studied management and leadership at the University of Manitoba91裸聊视频檚 business school 91裸聊视频� an educational background that can only help her run a sprawling police force of 18,500 officers responsible for everything from traffic duty to investigating terrorism.
91裸聊视频淚 want my employees to come to work every day and be proud of their organization,91裸聊视频� she said, eyeing the RCMP91裸聊视频檚 150th anniversary in 2023.
91裸聊视频淲e need to honour our past. We can91裸聊视频檛 live in it, but we need to honour it and learn from it and move forward. And I think if we do that, we91裸聊视频檙e going to be a force to be reckoned with.91裸聊视频�
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Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
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