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. A clean-shaven RCMP officer is pictured wearing a respirator mask and directing traffic at a COVID-19 testing centre in Burnaby, B.C., in August. Because I think you can generally see that RCMP officers are currently working in our communities, not wearing masks the moment they leave the detachment," said Dhillon.

Source: CBC News September 25, 2020 05:26 UTC