Official Declaration: I Will Not Let the RCMP’s Systemic Transphobia and Negligence Go Unchallenged

Official Declaration: I Will Not Let the RCMP's Systemic Transphobia and Negligence Go Unchallenged

By Marie Landry

Today, I am making an official declaration: I am moving forward with a lawsuit against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), brought against His Majesty the King in right of Canada, as represented by the Attorney General of Canada [1]. This Statement of Claim is finalized, and its filing in the Federal Court is imminent.

This legal action is the culmination of years of suffering, dismissal, and systemic failure. It is my refusal to let the transphobic conduct and negligence I endured go unaddressed. This fight is for accountability, justice, and lasting change for every marginalized person failed by the system.

The Foundation of My Claim: Negligence and Charter Violations

My legal claim, seeking $50,000,000.00 in damages, is built on indisputable facts and the core principles of Canadian law.

1. The Catastrophic False Criminal Record

In 2016, two criminal charges against me were withdrawn in open court [2, 4, 5]. Yet, due to a profound failure of duty, the RCMP (or its agents) negligently failed to update the national criminal record database. For seven years, a false record of conviction stood against my name, only confirmed and corrected in May 2023 [4, 6].

This failure had devastating, sustained consequences, causing loss of employment, housing insecurity, and severe emotional distress [9]. All my subsequent legal entanglements are a direct consequence of this foundational error and the state of duress it placed me under [9].

2. Systemic Transphobia and Discrimination

The negligent error was compounded by systemic discrimination. RCMP members subjected me to persistent transphobic conduct, including misgendering and the consistent dismissal of my reports of harassment [3, 4]. Between 2016 and 2023, law enforcement consistently trivialized my depositions, misrepresented me as a man with mental health issues, and coupled their actions with false allegations [7, 8].

My claim asserts that this is a severe violation of my rights under Section 7 (Right to Life, Liberty, and Security of the Person) and Section 15 (Equality Rights) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms [1, 3], as well as a breach of the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Beyond Monetary Compensation: Demanding Real Change

After exhausting administrative remedies through the CRCC and the CHRC, which failed to deliver the just relief I required [12], I am now taking this fight directly to the Federal Court, self-represented [1, 10].

My fight is not just about the money; it's about institutional reform. The lawsuit demands:

• A Declaration that the Defendant violated my fundamental rights [11].

• A formal, public apology from the RCMP [10].

• A Mandatory Injunction compelling the RCMP to implement mandatory, comprehensive LGBTQ+ sensitivity and anti-discrimination training for all its members and staff nationwide [10].

• Ultimately, I seek exoneration for my entire criminal record in New Brunswick, based on self-defense and the human rights violations I was forced to endure [7].

The time for quiet suffering is over. The filing of this Statement of Claim is the next essential step in securing transparency, accountability, and justice. This is my fight for a Canada where every person is treated with the dignity and respect our Charter guarantees.

#LandryvRCMP