Evidence of meeting #89 for Public Safety and National Security in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was officers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:40 a.m.
NDP
Jean Rousseau NDP Compton—Stanstead, QC
You mentioned the RCMP. I get the sense that it has always been the model that all the other police forces were supposed to look to. Obviously, it is also important to address the different cultures we have across Canada. There are first nations police forces and, as you said, provincial and municipal forces.
Should the RCMP not be looked upon as a model in terms of how to perform tasks? Indeed, should it not serve as a testing ground?
10:40 a.m.
Professor, Department of Political Science, Royal Military College of Canada, As an Individual
The RCMP is a structured force that looks very different from the provincial police forces in Ontario and Quebec and any municipal force in this country. This comes out of its paramilitary heritage. We see this in the type of esprit de corps within the RCMP. We see it in the values for leadership and promotion as opposed to other police forces in this country.
I think the RCMP is globally considered a leader in many aspects, but I think the RCMP also has considerable challenges, particularly on the human resources side.
For instance, I would submit as a recent challenge the individual in Alberta who was reprimanded for activities with two teenage girls and whatnot. While this individual was reprimanded, how did this individual get into the force, and how did this individual ever get promoted? Those are questions we ultimately need to ask supervisors. I think those questions point to a challenge in institutional culture within the RCMP.
Turning the RCMP from the vestiges of a paramilitary force into a police service remains an ongoing challenge. I think some of the issues with regard to treatment of women, a culture of bullying that continues to be pervasive in the organization, a culture of promotion whereby whom you know and who champions you largely determines whether you're going to get to the top. Under Commissioner Zaccardelli, it was not by accident that three pairs of brothers, when senior leadership positions for a $4 billion a year organization....
I would submit perhaps there is still some opportunity to continue with reform in the organization.
10:40 a.m.
NDP
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Could I take one quick moment? Professor, after your previous comments I think you would agree that Bill C-42 is needed to modernize the RCMP in terms of human resources.
I don't know if you're familiar with the bill and have had a chance, but could you comment on the bill, not only what it provides in modernizing human resources management but even oversight because we can't let that.... I think we all recognize that, but we're moving in the direction to give the RCMP the tools they need to change that culture, and the Liberals supported it as well.
10:40 a.m.
Professor, Department of Political Science, Royal Military College of Canada, As an Individual
Certainly an organization that until now had offered unlimited sick days to its membership offers no incentive to ever take long-term disability. Why would you take a 30% cut in pay when you can take unlimited sick leave? Indeed, reform is necessary.
At the same time, suite à votre question, I would encourage the committee to provide more opportunity for researchers to gather data and to study our security organizations, which are often very closed organizations that are very reticent to have anybody from the outside study them. I think there is the opportunity to generate much more research here and provide helpful answers to the questions you are posing.
10:45 a.m.
NDP
The Vice-Chair NDP Randall Garrison
Thank you very much for your testimony today. The committee will stand adjourned until Thursday morning.
Meeting adjourned.