Expelled cadet wants to go back to RCMP
Wed, Jul 21 - 5:03 AM
TORONTO — An expelled RCMP cadet said Tuesday that he’s looking forward to heading back to training after winning an appeal against the Mounties in a discrimination case stretching back 11 years.
The Federal Court of Appeal has upheld a finding that Ali Tahmourpour was the victim of racial discrimination during cadet training in 1999 in Regina.
"I’m going back," Tahmourpour, 37, said in a phone interview.
"I’m fit in every respect to be a policeman and I have something to contribute to the RCMP. I love the RCMP."
Tahmourpour, a Muslim of Iranian heritage, had won his case in 2008, when the Canadian Human Rights Commission ruled in his favour. The tribunal found he was verbally abused, unfairly evaluated and singled out by his instructors because of his religious belief.
The RCMP terminated his contract after completing 14 of the 22 weeks training, and prevented him from enrolling again.
The tribunal found those decisions were made "based in part on his race, religion and-or ethnic or national background," and that he "was not given an equal opportunity to develop and demonstrate his skills."
The RCMP took the case to Federal Court, where a judge set aside the commission’s findings and ordered the matter back to the tribunal.
On Monday the Federal Court of Appeal restored the commission’s 2008 ruling, except on the issue of compensation — which has been referred back to the tribunal.
