RCMP to offer settlement to hundreds of female Mounties who alleged abuse

Hundreds of female Mounties who came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and bullying while employed by the RCMP are expected to receive financial compensation from the federal government based the severity of their cases, CTV News has learned.

Terms of the settlements for two class action lawsuits, one in B.C. and another in Ontario, are expected to be revealed at a news conference in Ottawa on Thursday.

CTV News has learned that the hundreds of women involved in the tandem lawsuits will be eligible to present their cases to a third party, who will assess the severity of the harassment and determine the appropriate financial compensation.

Tens of millions of dollars is expected to be on the table.

The announcement is expected to be attended by federal cabinet ministers, RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson and the two female plaintiffs who launched the lawsuits, which were later joined by hundreds of women.

Since the fallout, the RCMP has taken steps to redraw its complaint process to make it easier and faster for employees to report allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination and abuse.

With a report from CTV’s Mercedes Stephenson

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  Former RCMP constables Janet Merlo, centre, of Nanaimo, B.C., and Marge Hudson, right, of Winnipeg, Man., arrive at B.C. Supreme Court for a hearing to seek certification of a class action lawsuit against the RCMP over sexual harassment and gender discrimination, in Vancouver, B.C., on Monday June 1, 2015. (THE CANADIAN PRESS / Darryl Dyck)