B.C. Mountie's anti-Trudeau website raises concerns about discriminatory views within the RCMP - Action News
Home WebMail Friday, November 22, 2024, 06:49 AM | Calgary | -13.3°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
British Columbia

B.C. Mountie's anti-Trudeau website raises concerns about discriminatory views within the RCMP

The website named The Church of Trudeaufeaturedtheatrical performances by a man dressed up as multiple charactersin what appears to be satirical political commentary aboutthe Prime Minister and what the siterefers to as"left-wing Liberal ideologies."

Police officer's satirical website pokes fun at prime minister, LGBTQ+ issues and immigration policy

A man wearing a shirt, tie, and sunglasses holds his hands in a prayer position on a political website mocking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The RCMP are investigating after a police officer in Trail, B.C., launched a satirical, political website called the Church of Trudeau mocking the Prime Minister and funding of Indigenous and LGBTQ+ communities. (churchoftrudeau.org)

A B.C.Mountie'santi-Trudeau website is causing waves in a small West Kootenaycommunityand raising concerns about political bias among the ranks of the RCMP.

The Church of Trudeauwebsite was online last November and early December andfeaturedtheatrical performances by a man dressed up as multiple charactersin what appears to be satirical political commentary aboutthe Prime Minister and what the sitereferred to as"left-wing Liberal ideologies."

CBC News has confirmed the identity of the man in photos and videos on the website as Trail, B.C.,RCMP officer Brent Lord through a source familiar with the website and its contents.

The RCMP says it is aware of the site and the matter is under review.

In one offour videosCBCNews has obtained, Lordplays the role of a character he callsFather B, and professes to be "the High Prophetof the Church of Trudeau"as he explains what the website is about, stating, "our religion teaches the importance of socialism, of cancelling everyone that offends anyone, of being woke and highly emotional."

A YouTube channel associated with the site that was scrubbed of content in December once stated, "our goal is to convert sinful conservatives who belong to a fringe minoritywith unacceptable views into entitled socialist liberals just like us."

Some of the website's contents and related social media accounts, includingTwitter, Twitch, YouTubeand Facebookare still publicly available through the Internet Archive Wayback Machine and search engines' web cache.

Lord does not mention hisjob as a Mountie on the website or in the videos.

CBCNews has reached out to Lord throughemail, social media and the phone number listed on the website, but he has not responded.

Site pokes fun atLGBTQ+ issues,immigration

In one video, Lord is dressed in multiple costumes sarcastically praising Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and government funding announcements for a Saskatchewan First Nation community andthe LGBTQ+ community.

"$35 million in new project funded support aimed at addressing specific barriers to 2SLGBTQ+ equality. Now I'm not as smart as Justin Trudeau so I don't really understand what that means, but it sounds really good and if Justin Trudeau has implemented it then it really makes senseand I trust that all of this money will be spent appropriately and there will be no scandals. I trust you Justin, I trust," he says, dressed in a fluffy dog hat with dog pyjamas and large red sunglasses.

WATCH | B.C. Mountie's website mockedTrudeau and his government's policies:

B.C. RCMP officer's political website investigated

2 years ago
Duration 1:02
The RCMP is investigating a Trail, B.C., Mountie for a website that mocks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and marginalized communities.

In another video, Lord gives a speech aboutfederal immigration policy while wearing a jester's hatand claims the goal of the policyis to bring in 1.5 million Liberal voters to Canada.

Viewers are invited to call into weekly streamed web broadcasts to discuss current events and donate money to support the websitein order to "help make Canada the greatest welfare country in the world."

'We are taking it seriously': mayor

The website's contents and the views expressed by the officer are concerning, according to Trail Mayor Colleen Jones, who said she has had "multiple conversations with the Trail RCMP detachment commander about it.

"It's definitely not anything a community wants," Jones said.

"I want everybody to know that we are taking itseriously and that the officer in question is currently working from home and will continue to do so until the investigation is complete."

WATCH |B.C. Mountie who launchedsatirical website is now on leave:

B.C. Mountie's controversial website prompts concerns over police bias

2 years ago
Duration 2:06
A B.C. Mountie's website that mocks Justin Trudeau and marginalized communities is raising concerns about discrimination within the force. The RCMP says it is now investigating the officer.

To Kash Heed, a former West Vancouver police chief and former solicitor general and minister of public safety,the political nature of the website is not in line with the standard ofconduct expected of a police officer.

"The RCMP should be investigating this as a code of conduct breach for this particular member," he said.

"When you're a public servant, especially with the RCMPwhere you've taken that oath of service to Canada,and you make those satirical videos, you have the memes ofthis particular character trying to be funny I find it very disturbing."

'Public trust is essential': RCMP spokesperson

In a statement, RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Chris Manseausaid the police force is assessing the website and the videos, calling it a fluid situation.

"Public trust is essential for the RCMP to effectively serve and protect Canadians," he said.

"As a result, RCMP employees must conduct themselves in a manner that not only meets, but exceeds, the rightfully high expectations of Canadians."

Heed likened the officer's political statements in the videos to cases last year ofpolice officers expressing support for the Freedom Convoy movementanddonating money to the organizers, which resulted in the officers being charged with misconduct and in one case demoted for their actions.

"It certainly brings into question the credibility of not only that individual, but the organization that he works for," Heed said.

"We need to make sure we're hiring the right people and we have the policies, discipline and supervision in place to detect these types of behaviours and deal with them in a swift fashion."

It's not clear how long the RCMP's investigation into the officer and website will take.

Jones said she has faith in the police force's review of the situationand that she will be closely following the process.