RCMP mask policy for bearded front-line officers is discriminatory and ‘shouldn’t have happened,’ Trudeau says PM and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair say Mounties need to 'rectify' policy

September 25, 2020   

(CBC) The prime minister says the RCMP’s policy requiring front-line officers to wear properly fitting N95 respirator masks amounts to discrimination and “shouldn’t have happened,” because the rule disfavours officers who keep beards for religious reasons.

Justin Trudeau said Friday he was “very disappointed” to hear about the policy which has seen a number of Mounties — including Sikh and Muslim officers — reassigned to desk duty during the pandemic.

“It is something that I certainly hope the RCMP rectifies quickly and it shouldn’t have happened in the first place,” Trudeau said during a news conference.

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