RCMP should become more diverse - Punjabi

RADIO - Red FM 93.1 Punjabi Morning - Vancouver, 12/06/2020 - COMMENTARY, Punjabi

Summary Translation: Harjinder Thind - There is talk that the RCMP should be more diverse. Commissioner Brenda Lucki also said that there can be improvement in the RCMP. Initially, the RCMP was a paramilitary force and consisted only of White people, and Indigenous people were not given entry into it. Slowly, different people came to be recruited, but today does the RCMP reflect the population it serves? For example, are the people of colour who live in Surrey reflected in the Surrey RCMP? So this is the biggest issue. Years ago, the decisions made for Indigenous people were made by boards consisting of White people. The population being served should be reflected in the boards. That is why a long time ago, I [the host] started a campaign on this show for employment equity on decision-making boards in British Columbia, such as the Fraser Health Board, where there were no people of colour when its policies would impact a large number of people of colour. Now there is some improvement, but it still is not enough. Now there is pressure for more diversity to be visible in the RCMP. We hope that diversity will increase. It should not happen that people of colour in the RCMP are unable to rise above the position of constable. It should not happen that they do not rise above certain ranks and other less deserving people rise instead.