Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I am pleased to be here with my colleague, Deputy Minister Baker, and I would like to thank you for the opportunity to provide an update on the RCMP's transformation efforts.
Since the government provided its response to the committee's report of December 2007, I believe the committee has been briefed periodically on progress in addressing the committee's recommendations.
Following the committee's report and that of the Task Force on Governance and Cultural Change in the RCMP, both in December of 2007, the RCMP embarked on a comprehensive and ambitious transformation initiative.
Simply put, our objective has been to bring about positive change in the force in order to better serve Canadians and better support our employees.
I would like to highlight some of the changes we have made, including changes to improve transparency and accountability.
Let me begin by saying that I believe the RCMP is a stronger organization today than it was when issues surrounding its pension and insurance plans came to light. Much of the progress we have made is summarized, as Mr. Baker indicated, in our report entitled “Progress--Transformation of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police”. I believe the Minister of Public Safety provided copies to the committee last fall.
The progress outlined in that report is in support of our vision for change for the RCMP to be an adaptive, accountable, trusted organization of fully engaged employees demonstrating outstanding leadership and providing world-class police services.
I believe this vision supports many of the principles reflected in the recommendations of the committee. For example, we created the Office of Professional Integrity within the RCMP, and appointed retired Major General Joseph Hincke as our professional integrity officer. His role is to advance ethical and values-based decision-making throughout the organization; and to oversee discipline, honours, recognition, and the application of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act.
The Office of Professional Integrity also supports our policy on external investigations or review adopted last year to provide further assurance that serious incidents involving employees of the RCMP will be thoroughly and independently investigated. We recognize that transparency and accountability are vital to the public support on which we rely in carrying out our mandate promoting the safety and security of Canadians.
The RCMP, and I as commissioner, are very supportive of other proposed enhancements to independent oversight and review of the RCMP, including proposed legislation to establish an independent review and complaints commission, which would build on the existing Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP.
The senior executive of the RCMP and I are also on record as supporting recommended governance changes for the RCMP, specifically that the RCMP become a separate agency supported by a board of management.
The senior executive of the RCMP and I are also on record as supporting recommended governance changes for the RCMP, specifically that the RCMP become a separate agency supported by a board.
As our transformation report highlights, we have made significant progress on a broad range of issues. We have improved our performance on access to information requests; strengthened our policies, training, and reporting requirements on the use of force, notably in relation to conducted energy weapons or tasers; and introduced a new policy on the responsibility to report, clarifying and strengthening reporting requirements relating to major police incidents.
Among the priorities we have been addressing are leadership, training and development, and significant improvements in investments have also been made in these critically important areas. We have also been successful in our efforts to obtain greater authority with respect to procurement and contracting, including pursuant to the investment planning initiative undertaken by Public Works and Government Services Canada.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, I would like to refer to significant changes to both our organizational structure and the makeup of the RCMP's senior management team. We have streamlined the senior executive committee and appointed uniquely qualified individuals to our senior management team. This includes a number of new commanding officers and other senior officials in our divisions--that is the provinces and territories--and at national headquarters. The senior management team is committed to working collaboratively to create a culture of continuous improvement and to accelerate the pace and scope of positive change within the RCMP.
Thank you again, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to appear before you today. I look forward to the committee's questions.