Yes.
Evidence of meeting #6 for Veterans Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rcmp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #6 for Veterans Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rcmp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:05 p.m.
Supt Rich Boughen
Yes.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
That is very important. I have two military bases in my riding. A lot of guys who served 20 years ago are just now starting to admit that they have some of these problems. One of the big problems was that, in the beginning, the programs set out in the Canadian Forces and others were voluntary programs. You identified yourself that you had a problem, and then you went and got it proved. All too often that doesn't work, because these people are Type A personalities.
You mentioned that you had an ident program, a pilot program involving identity guys. I'm good friends with our ident guys in northeastern Alberta. Is that a voluntary program?
12:10 p.m.
Supt Rich Boughen
Yes.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
My concern with that, and I assumed that would be--go ahead.
12:10 p.m.
Supt Rich Boughen
Maybe I should qualify that, considering that you're going to go on. It's a pilot, but it's voluntary inasmuch as we have told people what we're going to be talking about and that if they're not interested in it right now, it's probably best that they self-select out and let those who want to come in, because there are a lot who do. We can do it that way.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
My only concern is that in northeastern Alberta, where I'm from, we have two ident guys for a huge area. These are Type A personalities. These guys take on extra work all the time. I know these guys personally. They're not the type who are going to volunteer to do something for themselves in this regard. It's only something that I'll mention to you; I'm sure you're aware of it.
Having been from northern Alberta all my life and having had victims of crime in my family and whatnot, I know that victim services immediately comes and looks after the victims. They do it immediately, and the victim really doesn't have a choice in it. They're there and they help them through the process. One of my concerns is that the members of the RCMP don't seem to have that right there for them. As you said, it seems to be a somewhat voluntary and selective service. That raises some concerns for me.
12:10 p.m.
C/Supt Alain Tousignant
If I could comment on that, as soon as our members are exposed to a tragic event, there are two ways. In the member employee assistance program, the person will get in touch with the family. We also have a staff relations representative who will also get involved and assist the family in making sure that the spouse or the partner accesses everything that he or she needs to move forward. Those two components are fairly strong, and they have a very strong link with the family of the member.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
I would like to just make one brief comment that's totally unrelated. I often talk to the members of the forces in my area. One thing that is constantly brought to my attention--and I know this is an operational issue that has nothing to do with the purview of Parliament--is that members would like access to better defensive equipment and better vests.
Thank you.
12:10 p.m.
C/Supt Alain Tousignant
Thank you.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Thank you, Mr. Storseth.
We'll now move on to Mr. Bagnell for five minutes.
April 1st, 2010 / 12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT
Thanks to both of you for being here. It's a delight to have two members here who have both served in the most beautiful riding in the country. It's great to see you again.
12:10 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT
Here's my first question. You have an association in the RCMP. I know it's not a union, but it's a members' association, right?
12:10 p.m.
C/Supt Alain Tousignant
It's not a recognized association. It's very limited, to a certain part of the country, so we don't really have an association. It's not a sanctioned association. What we have is a staff relations program.
12:10 p.m.
C/Supt Alain Tousignant
Yes, where we have members of every division who represent the—
12:10 p.m.
C/Supt Alain Tousignant
--the members, regular members and civilian members.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT
Is that group unanimously in agreement with the original position and the ongoing position to not be involved in the veterans charter?
12:10 p.m.
C/Supt Alain Tousignant
Yes, they support our position.
