Former Squamish RCMP officer accuses force of discrimination

A former Squamish police officer is taking her case to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, alleging that the RCMP discriminated against her as a mother when her family tried to relocate to Whitehorse.

According to court documents, Cpl. Kayreen Brickner lived in Squamish with her husband, fellow RCMP officer Cpl. John Marinis, and four children in 2012.

In April of that year, Marinis applied for a new position in Whitehorse. 

When he accepted the job, Brickner claims that the RCMP “agreed to try its best” to find her a suitable position on the Yukon force, according to court documents. 

While Brickner did eventually begin working in Whitehorse two years later, she’s challenging the RCMP in the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for her treatment in the two years after the move.

During that time, Brickner says she was discriminated against as a female member of the force and as a mother, passed up for job opportunities and harassed by senior members of the RCMP.

She claims she was, according to court documents, “excluded and dismissed by members and other supervisors, including middle and senior management.”  “She alleges this was discrimination based on the grounds of sex and family status. She also alleges two acts of retaliation,” reads the court filing.

In the tribunal documents, Brickner said her position within the Yukon’s M Division began to sour after she turned down an initial offer of General Duty Watch Commander.

She said she turned down that position because it conflicted with her childcare responsibilities.

After that initial rejection, Brickner said she was passed up in the future — she was no longer informed of other opportunities and the RCMP went directly to other candidates instead of considering her for employment. 

The RCMP insists in the court documents that they considered Brickner for multiple positions.

The Chief requested further comment from the RCMP regarding this case, but were told, the organization “will not be commenting on this case as it is currently before the tribunal.”

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

A ruling on the case has not been made. 

In May 2017, while preparing for a hearing, Brickner brought forward a motion to have additional documents released by the RCMP.

A number of the documents Brickner has requested that the RCMP release are the resumes and cover letters of other job applicants, in order to prove that she was qualified but not considered.