The Liberal government has raised concerns with the RCMP about the national force declining to accommodate bearded Sikh officers during the pandemic, but the force said it is subject to a health and safety regulation for respirator fittings that “specifically requires a clean shave.”
The World Sikh Organization (WSO), which seeks to promote
and protect the interests of Canadian Sikhs, said Sikh officers have been
removed from front-line policing duties and given desk roles for nearly six months
because the RCMP says its personal protective equipment or PPE does not seal
with facial hair.
“The RCMP are the only police force in Canada that refuse
to accommodate bearded Sikh officers,” said WSO president Tejinder Singh Sidhu.
There has been no attempt to accommodate Sikh officers
with alternative PPE that would work with their facial hair, the organization
added.
The concerns were raised as the RCMP and police forces
across Canada face increased calls to confront systemic racism, including after
a number of police shootings.
All officers must be given equal opportunity to serve
their community while practising their faith, she added. “They must not
experience discrimination based on religion.” said press secretary Mary-Liz
Power.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-rcmp-not-accommodating-bearded-sikh-officers-organization-says/
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