The RCMP is facing accusations of discrimination because of a policy requiring front-line officers to wear properly fitting medical grade face masks which may not be possible with a beard.
This has sparked calls for a change in policy after some front-line officers with beards — including Sikh and Muslim RCMP members who leave their hair unshorn for religious reasons — have been reassigned to desk duties.
On March 19 as Canada began dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki sent out a directive outlining the use of respirator masks for front-line officers. Lucki said officers must ensure the respirator is sealed correctly and “one of the most common causes of a breached seal is facial hair.”
World Sikh Organization legal counsel Balpreet Singh said the move h...
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