News
RCMP to retain natural fur hats

Sep 30 2014

OTTAWA – A move by the Mounties to doff their fur hats in favour of more animal-friendly tuques isn’t getting any muskrat love from the federal Conservatives.

Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq told the House of Commons on Tuesday that the public safety minister had directed the Mounties to reverse the decision.

The RCMP wrote to an animal-rights group last month to say it had tested a tuque that works well in normal winter conditions, and that it would supply the new hat to cadets as early as this fall.

The Mounties said the muskrat hat would continue to be issued to officers working in extreme cold, stressing that the force and its garment suppliers comply with an international agreement on humane trapping standards.

However, in its letter to the Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals, the RCMP said the overall result would be a “significant reduction” in the number of fur hats worn by members.

“We have listened to the views of external interested parties and of our employees,” wrote RCMP Corps Sgt. Major Darren Campbell.

“RCMP officers stationed in areas that are not considered extreme will be issued the winter tuque only. Those that will require the fur hat will have to request approval and authority from their line officers in order to obtain the fur hat.”

The historic fur hats worn by the RCMP “will not be discontinued, despite the efforts of the radical animal-rights activists,” said Aglukkaq, a staunch supporter of the fur industry who hails from Nunavut.

“The RCMP decision, which is causing much glee among anti-fur activists, is being fully overturned. Our government will always stand up for Canada’s hunters and trappers.”

Sep 30 2014 WINNIPEG – The RCMP has stepped away from its involvement with a booklet being produced by two Islamic groups that is aimed at youth who are in danger of being radicalized.

The booklet, titled “United Against Terrorism,” is meant to combat the glossy recruitment videos of extremists such as ISIL.

It’s being published by the National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Islamic Social Services Association.

But on Tuesday, the RCMP issued a statement saying that after a final review, they “could not support the adversarial tone set by elements of the booklet and therefore directed RCMP Manitoba not to proceed with this initiative.”

The news release says the RCMP contributed to one section of the booklet titled “Understanding Radicalization and the role of RCMP in law enforcement and national security,” but takes no responsibility for any other material in the publication.

The RCMP did not say which aspects of the booklet were concerning and said all questions about the issue should be addressed to the Islamic groups.