RCMP sexual abuse apology 'a stepping stone,' says Mountie

A Mountie in the Halifax area says the massive settlement announced by Ottawa Thursday related toharassment, discrimination and sexual abuse in the RCMPwill offer female employees"someclosure."

"This is a stepping stone for us to heal and get better because there was a lot of damage done," saidRCMPConst. CathyMansley, who is currently off the job.

The apologyand the promise of compensation settles two separateclass action lawsuits, oneof which Mansley says she was a claimant in,and could cost up to $100million in claims.

About 20,000 current and past RCMP employeeswho have worked for the police force since 1974could qualify, althoughabout 1,000 are expected to apply for the compensation.

• RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson says sorry for 'shameful' conduct

'Meat of the problem'

That money is deserved, but perhaps worthless than the proof that "the government is finally seeing that we need to change," Mansley said.

The federal government appears to be working to improve conditions for women, led by Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale, she said.

"He wants to get to the meat of the problem to be able fix it. I've already seen him being active in doing this," she said.

'I wasn't alone'

Mansleywas stationed in Tantallon, N.S., when she was suspended by the forcewith payin 2010 due to alcoholism.She has said shesufferedfrom post-traumatic stress disorder, which she linkedto her work.

OnThursday,Mansley said she also endured sexual harassment in the RCMP, and witnessed other women being treated the same.

"I knew Iwasn't alone," she said.

For instance, when she first started on the job in 1995, she said a supervisor took a special interest in helping her learn.

"I just thought he was going to be a really good mentor for me because he had a really good reputation in solving crimes and investigations," Mansley said.

"It turned out over time that he was really hitting on me. It really ended up making me feel very uncomfortable; it made the rest of my co-workers feel uncomfortable."

Little recourse

Male colleagues catcalled her from the parking lot in the morning, she said, and tried to discredit her work.

The class action lawsuits allegefemale officers and civilianemployees of the RCMPfacedunwanted sexual touching, rape, physical assault, sexist comments, threats, gender discrimination, harassment and bullying.

Mansley said she and other female colleagues "didn't have any recourse," with some RCMP supervisorsbeing unsure what qualified as inappropriate.

'That's all gone now'

That, to her, was evidence of a systemic problem in theRCMPculture.

"Once your reputation is ruined as a police officer, your career is ruined," Mansley said."I know for myself, this did a lot of damage. I loved my job ... That's all gone now. I can't get that back."

The apology and offer of compensation gives her "hope for future generations of women," that they'll have a safer experience.

But she said she doubts there will be enough of a change in her lifetime.

"I cannot go back into that working environment the way that things are now," Mansley said."I absolutely cannot because this was definitely life-threatening to me, and I can't put myself in that position."