Thank you. Good morning, Madam Chair and members of the committee. Thank you for inviting the RCMP to appear before you today.
I would like to introduce Superintendent Rich Boughen, acting director general, occupational health and safety, who is with me to answer questions on occupational health and safety. I would also like to acknowledge the presence of Staff Sergeant Murray Brown, who was invited directly by the committee to speak on behalf of the staff relations representative program.
The RCMP is the largest police force in Canada. We employ a workforce of extremely diversified occupations. The bulk of this workforce is composed of police officers who diligently carry out traditional police functions. We also employ a wide variety of specialized officers and civilian members, as well as public servants, auxiliary constables, volunteers, and contractors from all trades and professions, who in all total over 28,000 employees. The RCMP is present in large centres, small communities, northern and isolated posts, and peacekeeping missions across the world.
There is no such thing as routine work for a police officer. By nature of their work, RCMP members can be placed in operational situations that can result in physical, emotional and psychological injury and/or illness. They are regularly exposed to traumatic events, tragedies, atrocities, natural disasters and deep human suffering. Operational stress injuries not diagnosed can have a significant impact on the functioning and enjoyment of life within the family, work and social domains without the member or their families understanding the reasons for behavioural changes.
RCMP members are excluded from the Canada Health Act. Health care to our members is provided under the authority of the RCMP Act. Under this authority, the RCMP, through its operating budget, provides all health care benefits for its regular members to maintain and, if necessary, ensure a timely return to good health and fitness for duty.
The occupational health and safety branch establishes policies and programs aimed at promoting a healthy and safe work environment, and collaborates with a network of designated providers and other federal health care partners. The national branch supports regional and divisional occupational health offices by establishing national medical and psychological health standards, which are carried out by the divisional offices.
Preventative measures are in place to monitor the health of regular members throughout their career. Divisional physicians evaluate physical and mental wellbeing during a mandatory Periodic Health Assessment. This assessment must take place every one to three years dependent on specialized duty.
Members have access to comprehensive health care through entitlements and benefits. Health care is provided by medical and psychological professionals in the community and chosen by the member, although the RCMP does provide immunization. We strive to meet the health care needs of our members and those of their families and, when necessary, we will transport and may even relocate a member to ensure access to treatment resources.
The federal health care partnership aims to achieve economies of scale while enhancing the provision of care as well as to provide strategic issues leadership. The RCMP is unique among its partners in the FHP, as we do not provide direct health care or treatment to our members and as such we do not encounter the same types of pressures in the recruiting and retention of health professionals.
We are pleased with the leadership that the FHP has provided in Privacy, Enterprise Architecture Plan for the development of the Electronic Health Record, Health Services use of Data and Health Claims Processing. We also believe that the departments could further capitalize on the potential economies of scale by the provision of a knowledge base in support of partners in all areas of health care and health care management.
In closing, it's important to note that as our organization matures and changes, so do the needs of our employees. The RCMP is evolving to keep pace. As of April 1, I will be commencing the new position of director general, workplace development and wellness. The creation by our organization of this new role at the assistant commissioner level underscores the importance of wellness at the RCMP. We also continue to be intelligence-led and have engaged experts in the field to shepherd us as we move forward. We will utilize the latest research and best practices to keep our people healthy, fit for duty, fit for life.
Thank you.