Veterans Affairs Committee on April 1st, 2010

[Supt Rich Boughen]

No. But again, our experience is different. Because of duty to accommodate and the way our health benefits run, when a member is injured, we do everything we can to make sure they can stay within the organization and to retain them for as long as possible.

Again, because the average age of release of most our members now is about 54, I'm not saying that they won't work afterwards, but the analysis in 2006 was that this wasn't a big ticket item for us. Through the course of an RCMP member's career, they pick up a lot of skills and abilities that make them very saleable at the end of their career. There isn't a whole lot of retraining that is done, because they've already picked up a lot of things.

But if you're looking for a specific statistic, we don't have that.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

You have 15 seconds.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

When I looked at the projections in the report, it said that exponential growth in the disabled population is expected to occur, from 6,000 to 10,000. Obviously there's going to be tremendous cost, and if they're able to gain full employment, it would certainly be to the benefit of all involved.

[Supt Rich Boughen]

Right, and I think that in that number, that 8,000, it's important to point out that not all of those members are retired. A large percentage of them are, but they're retired from the forces so they're not necessarily looking for new employment anyway. They might be, but not necessarily. It's not like they're being released at the age of 38 or 40 and they have another 15 years for a pension.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you, Superintendent.

Just to let committee members know, the Liberal Party and the NDP have exhausted their questions. Mr. Vincent assures me that he has a brief question. If any member has another question before we finish with the witnesses, please let me know.

Mr. Vincent.

[Robert Vincent, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you.

My colleague Brian said that police officers wanted more adequate bulletproof vests. Further to that comment, I want to ask you three brief, very simple questions.

Does the RCMP have a joint workplace health and safety committee? What is your yearly budget for prevention? What were your most recent workplace health and safety recommendations?

[C/Supt Alain Tousignant]

In response to your first question, the answer is yes. Each division has a committee. In addition, there is a national committee that meets on a regular basis. It involves a national selection process, from across Canada.

As for your second question on the prevention budget, I cannot say what the exact amount is.

With respect to money dedicated specifically for prevention, I don't have that. Our budget is broken down by operational work and salaries, so I don't have the answer to that question.

[Supt Rich Boughen]

Right now, we have what's called a hazard prevention program, and that has a budget of around $300,000 a year.

[Robert Vincent, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

For Canada?

[Supt Rich Boughen]

Yes.

[Robert Vincent, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

And as for your most recent recommendations?

[C/Supt Alain Tousignant]

The amount of $300,000 is for the National Compensation Policy Centre, but each division carries out a small part of the program, in terms of client service. As for their budget, I do not know how much it is. In total, it is just over $300,000, but I do not know more than that.

[Supt Rich Boughen]

In each region and division there's an occupational health and safety officer who makes sure that the work environments are at a certain standard.

[Robert Vincent, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

If I understand you correctly, no prevention is done. If something happens, there is rehabilitation or a pension, and that's it. There is no budget to prevent problems that members might encounter.

[C/Supt Alain Tousignant]

No, I completely disagree with the statement that there is no prevention. There is. We talked about it. Our members who have access to employee assistance take information sessions that include a prevention component.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Excuse me. We're not getting any translation right now.

[C/Supt Alain Tousignant]

Excusez-moi.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Please proceed now. It has been fixed for the translators.

[C/Supt Alain Tousignant]

Thank you.

I would not say there is no prevention. I would not agree with that. When we talk about people who help employees...

[Robert Vincent, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

But employee assistance happens when there has been a claim.

[C/Supt Alain Tousignant]

In fact...

[Robert Vincent, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Brian mentioned bulletproof vests. Is there someone looking into whether these vests are adequate or not?

[C/Supt Alain Tousignant]

We have a whole unit that takes care of uniforms and safety. It is constantly reviewing our equipment. Steps are being taken on that issue.

[Robert Vincent, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

There is no budget.

[C/Supt Alain Tousignant]

Not at all. As for their budget, I could not tell you what it is because that is not one of our responsibilities.