The Canadian Press

An extraordinarily challenging months-long investigation into one of Canada’s most secretive organizations revealed a toxic workplace at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service in British Columbia. Canadian Press’s Darryl Greer reported that two young female officers alleged they had been sexually assaulted by the same senior officer multiple times while in surveillance vehicles on covert missions. Other officers described a workplace where harassment, abuse and bullying, particularly of new young female recruits, went unchecked. The victims found the internal complaints process ineffective and felt unable to go to authorities because of a prohibition in the CSIS Act against identifying themselves or others as covert officers; violations are punishable by up to five years in prison. That provision meant going public posed unique risks for them and the reporter telling their story. When the story broke, immediate changes followed. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the allegations “devastating.” The agency’s director called it an “extraordinary moment” for CSIS. He announced that the alleged rapist was no longer with the agency. He also introduced new anti-harassment measures and ordered the creation of an ombudsperson’s office where officers could bring workplace complaints without fear of reprisal.