The head of the union representing Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) members is demanding answers about how a CBC-related production was approved that tricked retired officers into believing they were being honored for their service, only to reveal it was a prank.
Union Leader Expresses Outrage
Brian Sauvé, president of the National Police Federation, which represents approximately 20,000 current and former RCMP members, stated that he was recently contacted by a retired member who recounted the experience. Sauvé indicated that he is aware of multiple other retirees who were similarly targeted.
“We’re not talking about one or two to make it an issue,” Sauvé said. “We’re talking about, you know, probably a dozen or more.” He emphasized that this was not an isolated incident.
Details of the Prank
The retired member, who also shared his story in a YouTube video, explained that he was initially contacted in January to participate in a series about police officers transitioning to life after service. After a pre-interview, he agreed to a second interview in March, during which he was told that he and other officers would attend an event in Vancouver featuring Prince William to thank them for their service. He was instructed to wear his red serge uniform.
At the event, the former officer realized it was a prank when a fake video address was played, supposedly from King Charles III, announcing the dissolution of the RCMP due to the force’s historical dealings with First Nations.
Emotional Impact
Sauvé described his initial reaction as “disgust.” He noted that the officers were invited to celebrate their service, which is a matter of pride. “You’re probably walking into that building thinking, ‘Oh, this is going to be great, we don’t actually get recognized enough,’” he said. “Then you get into a room and the whole thing turns on a 180 so you’re going from that emotional high to an extreme emotional low within 30 seconds… I think that’s where the disgust comes in.” He added, “It’s just not right.”
Broader Context
The RCMP has acknowledged its role in the operation of church-run, government-funded residential schools, where thousands of Indigenous children were forced to attend and suffered widespread physical and sexual abuse. A 2011 report concluded that the RCMP assisted in removing children from their homes. Past commissioners have apologized for the force’s role in the residential school system.
In a letter to Heritage Minister Marc Miller, whose department oversees CBC/Radio-Canada, and to the public broadcaster’s president, Marie-Philippe Bouchard, Sauvé expressed concerns that many former RCMP members live with undiagnosed trauma and distress related to their service. He noted that those who were contacted or invited to participate reported that the experience added to their ongoing issues.
CBC has reiterated that the show has been paused as it examines the footage in light of the concerns raised.
