Female RCMP employee files civil suit alleging sexual harassment from co-workers

Another female RCMP employee has filed a lawsuit alleging a culture of sexual harassment within the organization.

Atoya Montague’s civil lawsuit details sexual harassment from a superintendent, staff sergeant, sergeant and other members the force, but it specifically names high-profile Insp. Tim Shields as its focus, claiming he subjected her to on-going harassment and sexual harassment.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday, also names the Attorney General of Canada and B.C.’s minister of Justice. It outlines a series of grievances ranging from outright sexual harassment to complaints of working overtime without pay and being paid $40,000 less than a male colleague in the same job.

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None of the allegations have been proven in court. In a statement released Thursday evening, the RCMP said the claims were unproven, uncorroborated, and unsubstantiated. They also said they were aware of many of the allegations through a third party.

“The RCMP immediately launched an investigation based on the limited information provided by the 3^rd party. Repeated attempts to gather any information directly from Ms. Montague, who has been on leave since August 2011, or her representative were unsuccessful.

“These efforts were extended from the highest levels, up to and including the Commanding Officer in an effort to understand the basis of the allegations. Notwithstanding these efforts Ms. Montague did not provide any information that would have allowed for a fulsome investigation of the allegations,” the release read.

Montague’s statement of claim alleges Shields inappropriately propositioned her a number of times from 2003 to 2008 while they were in police cars together. The statement also alleges other inappropriate behaviour from other staff sergeants and superintendents, along with a culture of discrimination during her time as director of communications for the Vancouver Integrated 2010 Security Unit.

This is another of several harassment lawsuits filed against the RCMP. None of Montague’s allegations have been proven in court.

– With files from Canadian Press