‘Ottawa’ Female Officers Unequal in Police Force, Audit Finds
A gender review at the Ottawa police force has found that female officers’ careers suffer when they have children, that they are less likely to be promoted, and that they experience sexism in the workplace.
The force falls well short of being a gender-equal employer, according to the force-wide audit conducted as part of a human rights settlement that was presented to the police board’s human resources committee Monday.
The audit was part of a settlement when Const. Barbara Sjaarda filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario in 2012. Sjaarda, who is married to another Ottawa officer, alleged she was denied training, specific jobs and chances for promotions because she was a woman and mother who took three separate maternity leaves when her children were born.