The Mounties need more women in their senior ranks to help make the tough decisions that will help shape the force's future, the new RCMP commissioner said Friday.
RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson told CTV's Canada AM that women comprise nearly 38 per cent of the police force's overall workforce, but they are not as well represented in higher-level positions.
These women need to have a greater voice in some of the "tough decisions" that the force faces, such as how to address problematic officer behaviours.
"There's many deserving women that need to be brought into the executive role to help us make these tough decisions," Paulson said.
But the commissioner cautioned that he would not force promotions simply to boost equity statistics.
"I recognize that most of our women are concerned that this increase in numbers in the senior ranks will be a measure that is just adding numbers," he said.
"I want to make sure that those employees and members that merit promotion get the promotion. I don't want people to think that we're moving women into the senior ranks just because we need more women."
Paulson has previously revealed that his top priority is to address allegations of sexual harassment that have been brought forward by female officers in recent weeks.
On Friday, Paulson reiterated that position, saying that "no one" wants to work in an environment where they have to fear possible harassment.
"One case is too many and when I hear stories like that and when my colleagues hear stories like that, we want to be able to act and reassure people that there is no place in our organization for that sort of behaviour," he said.
