National

B.C. RCMP conduct hearing delayed over disclosure issues, possible publication ban

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Mar, 2025 02:17 PM

An RCMP code of conduct hearing that could see three Mounties from Coquitlam, B.C., lose their jobs has been delayed until Thursday over disclosure issues and a possible publication ban.

The hearing in Surrey, B.C., was to begin with the testimony of a female officer who lawyers for the conduct hearing said would testify that Const. Ian Solven "outright lied" during his testimony at the hearing earlier this week.

Constables Solven, Mersad Mesbah and Philip Dick face allegations of discreditable conduct and workplace harassment over racist, homophobic and other derogatory messages made in police group chats on personal phones and over RCMP data terminals, which they deny.

John MacLaughlan, a lawyer for the RCMP conduct authority, says the officer scheduled to testify and others who were the subjects of derisive comments in the group chats need time to get independent legal advice and help from their union.

MacLaughlan told the conduct board that the proceedings should remain open to the public to the "greatest extent possible" because of the significant public interest involved, but he would not oppose a publication ban on alleged victims' names.

Brad Kielmann, Solven's lawyer, says he needed disclosure of the female officer's own private communications about the hearing, including Instagram messages, because they could be "highly relevant."

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Liberal leadership candidates make rival defence spending pledges

Contenders to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader are attempting to one-up each other over how quickly they'd meet Canada's defence spending commitment to NATO. Both Chrystia Freeland and Karina Gould vowed Thursday to bring Canada's military spending up to the equivalent of two per cent of national GDP by 2027 — five years ahead of Trudeau's timeline and three ahead of rival candidate Mark Carney's plan.

Liberal leadership candidates make rival defence spending pledges

One in five recent Canadian immigrants lived below poverty line in 2022, says StatCan

StatCan says a family or a person lives in poverty if they can't afford the cost of a basket of goods and services that represents a basic standard of living. They are in deep poverty if their income falls below 75 per cent of that threshold.

One in five recent Canadian immigrants lived below poverty line in 2022, says StatCan

Community groups say Canadians are scared as Trudeau warns hate crimes are rising

As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other leaders warn of a rising tide of hate around the world, community groups in Canada say they're getting more and more calls from frightened people. At a media availability with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw last month, Trudeau said antisemitism is on the rise globally, and especially since Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Trudeau was in Poland to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Community groups say Canadians are scared as Trudeau warns hate crimes are rising

Liberal race sucked into Trump's 'gravitational field,' strategists say

Liberal leadership hopefuls are pivoting and responding to the attention-consuming existential threats to Canadian trade posed by U.S. President Donald Trump — a preview of what the next federal election is going to look like, according to Liberal strategists.

Liberal race sucked into Trump's 'gravitational field,' strategists say

B.C. faces child welfare social work 'crisis,' porn disrupts video announcing report

British Columbia's children's representative says child welfare social workers in the province are "in a state of crisis" and it will likely take a decade to fix things, even with committed efforts. But an online news conference with Jennifer Charlesworth after the report was released was interrupted when a participant shouted racial slurs and then began showing a pornographic video.

B.C. faces child welfare social work 'crisis,' porn disrupts video announcing report

Arctic outflow, extreme cold warnings still up in parts of B.C. and cold persists

Much of British Columbia is thawing to seasonal temperatures, although arctic outflow warnings remain in place for some parts of the province. Environment Canada says an arctic air mass is bringing strong winds through the Whistler Valley and wind-chill values near -20 C while snow remains in Metro Vancouver, where temperatures are still below freezing.