Dozens of adult women seek to join lawsuit against RCMP

At least 25 current and former female RCMP officers are seeking to join a possible class-action lawsuit against the force for alleged mistreatment on the job, a lawyer involved in the budding legal action says.

Lawyer Alexander Zaitzeff, of Thunder Bay, Ont., who is building the case with six other lawyers in Ontario and B.C., said he’s heard from Mounties in every province with stories to tell.

“Constant terrible bullying, a hateful work environment, a tough place to actually show up and do your job, all the way to sexual assaults,” Zaitzeff said Tuesday. “That’s the gamut.”

Vancouver lawyer David Klein said he is also hearing from potential plaintiffs and said the suit will likely be filed in B.C. early in the new year, and could ultimately seek millions of dollars in damages.

“Money isn’t going to bring back someone’s health. Money is not going to bring back a family or a broken career,” said Klein. “Money is part of it, but it certainly isn’t what the case is all about.”

Klein said the lawsuit will be filed on behalf of one or two current or former officers and then he will ask the judge to certify the suit as a class-action, allowing more people to join as plaintiffs.