February 13, 1995 For Immediate Release
RCMP POLICIES DISCRIMINATE AGAINST WHITE MALES
"Liberals think equality can only be achieved by discriminating," says Breitkreuz
Ottawa - Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, is shocked by information brought to light by two Reform MPs last week. Chuck Strahl, MP for Fraser Valley East released data which shows that the RCMP training academy in Regina will train 426 new "cadets" this year but that top brass has already decided that 112 of them will be aboriginals, 112 visible minorities and 95 will be women. That is 74% of the total.
Breitkreuz asked, "How can Canadians be assured that these are the best officers for the job? Once again the merit principle, on which all public sector hiring should be based, takes a back seat to an applicant's race, the colour of their skin and their gender. Political correctness is rampant in the RCMP and they are gambling with the public's safety," complained the Reform MP. "I think Canadians are more concerned about having the very best RCMP officers patrolling our highways and streets than they are about the colour of their skin or whether they are a man or a woman. And, if I'm wrong I'm sure I'll hear about it," stated Breitkreuz.
Sharon Hayes, MP for Port Moody-Coquitlam in BC also released information last week which shows that visible minorities and aboriginals are also given preference in transfers, placements and assignments so that they can be near family and their own community. "I know a number of RCMP officers who have been denied transfers to even their home province, let alone to their own home town," said Breitkreuz. How do these officers feel when their colleagues are being given special treatment because of their race? Police officers have a tough enough job without the hiring and transfer practices of the Force creating resentment among the ranks," observed Breitkreuz.
He continued, "I believe in true equality and the most important criteria for hiring any employee is that they are the best person for the job. If all qualifications of two applicants are equal then I don't mind preference being given to a minority group. However, I think it must undermine the confidence, self-esteem and credibility of RCMP officers who know that they got their job because they are aboriginal, female or the colour of their skin and not necessarily because of their qualifications. How must an applicant from a minority group feel whenever they meet another officer or a member of the public? Do they ask themselves, "I wonder if they think I got this job because I was the best person for the job or if they think I got it because of the colour of my skin or because I'm a woman? Employment equity and affirmative action are just legalized racism and sexism. The Liberals think the only way to achieve equality is by discriminating. These government policies and laws can do nothing but divide us, and I will do everything in my power to see them reversed," declared Breitkreuz.
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