The first hearing in a sexual discrimination and harassment class action lawsuit filed against the RCMP by a former Nanaimo Mountie begins Thursday (Aug. 2) in Vancouver.
Janet Merlo, who served as an RCMP constable in Nanaimo from September 1991 to March 2010, filed the suit in B.C. Supreme Court in March.
Merlo, the plaintiff acting on behalf of female RCMP members in the proposed class action, alleges she and fellow female members, civilian members and public service employees were subject to gender-based discrimination, bullying, harassment.
The claim, describing numerous incidents of sexist comments, sexual pranks and derogatory remarks, also alleges the RCMP failed to ensure women in the force could work in an environment free of harassment.
“This is the first opportunity for the court to hear an outline of the lawsuit and for the plaintiff and the RCMP to address the schedule for certifying the lawsuit as a class action,” said David Klein, Merlo’s lawyer.