RCMP interference in harassment review won't be tolerated, Ralph Goodale says

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale has issued an indirect warning to RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson about Mounties' participation in a review of how the police force handles allegations of workplace harassment.

"No one, no onewill interfere in that process," Goodale forcefully told members of the Senate's committee on national security and defence Monday.

Senator Joe Day had asked the ministerwhether he had followed up on testimony from the chair of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission forthe RCMP.

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Last month, Ian McPhail told the committee how his work to update his 2013 report on RCMP workplace harassment had met a roadblock.

"He couldn't speak to any of the (RCMP) members without the member first informing the commissioner that he or she was speaking to McPhail. So the study, he felt, was compromised because he could not ensure confidentiality," Day told Goodale.

The minister saidhe asked McPhail to undertake "a very important examination of issues on behalf of me and the government of Canada, and all Canadians."

McPhail also appeared before committee Monday to provide an update.

He said that two days after his testimony last month, commissioner Paulson wrote to him directlyto relay that his directive to members that they must notify their employerwhen they communicate with the complaints commission would not apply to the ongoing harassment review.

McPhailtold senators he expects his report to be ready by the spring of 2017.

In the meantime, Goodale saidhe intends to hire an expertto advise him on harassment within the national police force.

"I am looking at a distinguished Canadian or group of Canadians who could offer me some particular advice of certain dimensions of the harassment issue. When I get those persons identified and the precise mandate finalized, I can comment further," Goodale told reporters.