Former CSIS Officer “Jane Doe” Alleges Repeated Rape by Senior Colleague, Highlights Toxic Workplace Culture

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Title: Canadian Security Intelligence Service Faces Accusations of Sexual Assault and Toxic Workplace Culture

Subtitle: Two CSIS Surveillance Officers Break Their Silence, Expose Harassment and Assault Within the Agency

Date: November 30, 2023

In a shocking revelation, two Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) surveillance officers have come forward with allegations of sexual assault and a toxic workplace culture within the agency. The officers, who are currently on leave, have filed anonymized lawsuits against the federal government, shedding light on the alleged misconduct that they endured.

The first officer, referred to as “Jane Doe,” claims that a senior CSIS colleague repeatedly raped her during their surveillance missions between July 2019 and February 2020. She accuses her alleged attacker of prioritizing his own needs over the job and describes feeling helpless due to the secrecy obligations placed on CSIS officers.

A second officer, identified as A.B., supports Jane Doe’s claims and alleges that she too was sexually assaulted by the same senior officer during covert missions. Both officers claim to have warned their superiors about the senior officer’s behavior but received no action.

Furthermore, the women state that they were part of a toxic workplace culture in the CSIS physical surveillance unit in British Columbia. They describe a pattern of bullying, harassment, and victimization of young female officers, with no accountability or intervention from management.

Their accounts, supported by documents and interviews with The Canadian Press, provide a rare glimpse into the internal workings of Canada’s spy agency. The officers reveal a flawed internal complaint process that leaves victims vulnerable to retaliation and without access to external recourse.

The CSIS rookies’ probationary period of two years is cited as a contributing factor to their mistreatment, as senior officers hold significant power over their careers. The women argue that this power dynamic perpetuates a culture of abuse within the agency.

This is not the first time CSIS has faced criticism for its workplace culture. In 2017, five anonymous CSIS workers in the Toronto region filed a lawsuit claiming racism, sexism, and harassment. Huda Mukbil, one of the plaintiffs, later identified herself and wrote a book about her experiences. She emphasizes the ineffectiveness of CSIS’s internal complaint and grievance processes, stating that problems persist due to a conformist culture.

CSIS Director David Vigneault acknowledged the presence of harassment and fear of reprisal within the organization, addressing questions about systemic racism in December 2020. However, the agency has not provided further comment on specific legal matters.

The women who have come forward fear legal and professional repercussions or retaliation from CSIS if they reveal their identities. Canadian law prohibits the identification of CSIS employees involved in covert acts, and The Canadian Press does not name alleged victims of sexual assault unless they publicly identify themselves.

The lawsuits filed by Jane Doe and A.B. are ongoing, with Jane Doe’s initial lawsuit dismissed by the B.C. Supreme Court for failure to exhaust the internal grievance process. The women’s lawyer argues that survivors of workplace sexual violence should not be forced to seek remedies from the same institutions that failed to protect them.

The revelations have sparked a broader conversation about accountability, transparency, and the need to address systemic issues within CSIS. Both current and former CSIS employees hope that these brave women’s actions will lead to meaningful change and ensure a safe and respectful workplace for all..