Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 17/02) - Maternity leaves are causing staffing problems for the RCMP and one city councillor said the solution is simple.

Coun. Ben McDonald told the city's public services committee that, "if this detachment accepts women members, they're crazy."

He made the comment Tuesday during a discussion with Staff Sgt. Terry Scott about the detachment's attempts to get more officers on the street.

McDonald chairs the committee.

Scott told the committee that one of the problems facing the detachment is maternity leaves. One member is currently on leave, and two others have been assigned to administrative duties in anticipation of births later in the year.

Scott rejected McDonald's suggestion women not be hired because of the maternity leaves. "No, absolutely not," he said. "Everyone is entitled to their benefits."

McDonald admitted there might be some human rights legislation problems with his suggestion.

But, he said after the meeting, "when you have any employer that's in a situation where they're obliged to provide women with maternity leave, but they're not provided with the resources to replace them, then it's obviously contrary to the local employer's interests to have a woman on staff.

"I'm not saying I like the idea. I'm saying it's a reality of the policy."

The detachment has 24 officers, and Scott said there is "no likelihood" of finding temporary replacements to fill in while women are on leave.

"It's never happened.," he said. The RCMP has had female members since 1974.

Barb Saunders, executive director of the NWT Status of Women Council, said she was initially shocked by McDonald's comments. Saunders said "it's not contrary to the public interest" to hire women.

But on further reflection she said McDonald may be right on some points, and levelled her finger at the RCMP. "(McDonald) probably pointed out what is quite true," she said. "But that is evidence of the lack of progressive thinking on the part of the RCMP to have appropriate equity measures in place. ...If men had babies, then we could have a more equal employment."

Scott said police are aiming "to have more members available on the shifts." One of the ways to do that is by retooling schedules.

Officers who work 12-hour shifts are eligible for periods of four to five days off. Eight-hour shifts would reduce the number of days off to two.

Scott responded to questions from various councillors. Coun. Alan Woytuik asked about the possibility of using a civilian volunteer force. Scott said that won't work because he doesn't have enough constables on duty to respond if civilians notice anything amiss.