Public Safety Committee on Feb. 12th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

I call this meeting to order.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Thank you for participating in meeting number 24 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.

Before I give the floor to our witness, I would like to resolve one issue. You probably saw the clerk distribute the text of a motion resulting from an agreement among the whips. A number of other committees have already passed a similar motion.

Is it the will of the committee to adopt this motion?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

We will now move to our review of the subject matter of clause 371 in division 19, and clauses 380 to 385 in division 21, of Bill C‑15, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025.

I now welcome Mr. Brian Sauvé of the National Police Federation.

Mr. Sauvé, I invite you to give your opening remarks.

[Brian Sauvé, President, National Police Federation]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the committee members.

Thank you for the opportunity to appear today on Bill C-15.

As mentioned, my name is Brian Sauvé. I'm a member of the RCMP. I'm also the president of the National Police Federation, which is the union representing about 20,000 members of the RCMP across Canada and internationally.

I'd like to begin by extending my heartfelt thoughts to all those impacted by the tragic events in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. I also want to recognize all of the members of the E Division and the K Division who have gone in to support and who have gone in swiftly and decisively, demonstrating immense courage and heroism.

Every day, members of the RCMP respond to calls that most Canadians never have to face. They confront armed suspects, investigate child exploitation, police remote communities alone and bear witness to the worst moments of people's lives. That service leaves a mark. Over 50% of serving members of the RCMP receive some form of a disability pension. Post-traumatic stress disorder is among the top diagnosed conditions. Psychiatric disability claims have grown by over 100% in the last decade. These are not statistics. These are the men and the women who answered the call to serve and who carry the physical and psychological costs of that service.

The NPF has actively sought clarity on divisions 19 and 21 of this bill since the legislation was tabled. We have met with the Minister of Public Safety and have written to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, as well as the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. While we have received some responses, critical questions remain unanswered.

First, in division 21, we support proposed section 32.2, which confirms Veterans Affairs as the decision-maker for RCMP disability pension awards. This codifies existing practice and provides needed legislative clarity. However, proposed section 32.3 is deeply troubling. It authorizes the Minister of Veterans Affairs, the Minister of Public Safety and the commissioner of the RCMP to disclose and share information with one another for the purposes of this part. It further allows Veterans Affairs Canada to share information with the RCMP for “the administration and management of the Force.” These authorities are drafted broadly, contain no limiting definitions and include no privacy safeguards.

In a letter, the Privacy Commissioner confirmed that the Privacy Act still applies. That is cold comfort to a member suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder who discovers that their medical information was shared beyond what was necessary and must navigate a complaint process as a discharged civilian without resources, without support and without evidence of what occurred behind closed doors.

Today, under an existing MOU, sharing is limited and one-directional. RCMP health services provide medical information to Veterans Affairs Canada for adjudication and only the determination, diagnosis, name and regimental number flow back. The Minister of Public Safety recently outlined to us that the intent is to codify the existing MOU and not to expand it. If that is the intent, then codify it. Define the limits in legislation. Do not leave members guessing whether seeking help will cost them their career.

Second, Bill C-15, in division 19, replaces the long-standing pension indexation formula for RCMP disability benefits with a CPI-only model, effective January 1, 2027. The budget estimates that this saves $5.8 billion over four years. That is $5.8 billion taken from injured members of the RCMP. When Canadian Armed Forces members transitioned to CPI-only indexation under the Veterans Well-being Act in 2006, existing recipients were grandfathered under the previous formula. RCMP members are not afforded such protections under this legislation. Every recipient, including those who have been receiving benefits for decades, moves to the new formula overnight.

The legislation also permits regulations with retroactive effect. We have been told this will not be used. If so, why is it in the bill? Its presence creates uncertainty for our members planning for their financial futures. We're not asking for special treatment. We're only asking for fairness. They ask that the benefits promised when they pinned on the badge be recognized.

Thank you. I look forward to any questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

Thank you for your remarks, Mr. Sauvé.

I will now give the floor to committee members.

We will start with Mr. Gill.

Mr. Gill for six minutes.

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Sauvé, for being here today. We truly appreciate it. I would like to begin by offering my sincere condolences to the victims and the families following the tragic shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. Our thoughts are also with the entire community during this undoubtedly incredibly difficult time.

I also want to recognize the first responders who acted quickly and very courageously during this tragedy. You are the president of the National Police Federation; I know you take great pride in your members who you represent and rightly so. I would like to ask you to please convey this committee's appreciation and gratitude to those officers and the first responders.

How can this committee and body of Parliament help ensure that the first responders and RCMP members who responded in Tumbler Ridge have the supports that they need? Is there anything we can do from our side to make sure that the first responders are supported?

[Brian Sauvé]

I think you're doing it. Public support is appreciated. I spoke to our director, Jeff Swann, who is on the ground in Tumbler Ridge and has been since last night. He has expressed to me that the membership there and the community are feeling the love, for lack of a better term, whether it be from the federal government or different provincial governments, or even internationally. I think continued conveyance of that message as that community grieves and works through this tragedy would be much appreciated.

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Thank you for that.

We know that, throughout the House, all members are deeply grateful for the service of the RCMP and all members who serve in that community as well. It's moments like these that remind us of the sacrifices made by the ones who wear the uniform and the importance of ensuring that they have the support that they deserve. Once again, from the entire committee, and the entire body of Parliament, we want to thank you.

Months ago, the Liberal government committed in budget 2025 to hiring 1,000 new RCMP officers to address the growth of public safety challenges. Do you know if those 1,000 officers have been hired by this date?

[Brian Sauvé]

My understanding of that is the funding of that hasn't been approved yet. That's one of the things we're talking about here today. However, yes, work is well under way with the RCMP to expedite their recruitment process, and the spots are available at the training academy in Regina to be able to accommodate an increased number of cadets.

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

Would you be able to provide me with a timeline of when these officers might be recruited, trained and deployed?

[Brian Sauvé]

That's the question best asked of the RCMP. From my understanding, the plan for the RCMP with this next fiscal year is up to 50, if not 55, troops of cadets. We can compare that to the existing 40 troops this year. A troop is 32 cadets, so 40 troops is almost 1,300 cadets. Going up to 50 troops obviously brings that over 1,800 cadets. If they do 55 troops, then you would have another 150 cadets on top of that.

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

I know you mentioned that your members have serious concerns with parts of budget 2025, with Bill C-15, particularly around the financial security, disability benefits, medical privacy and trust in the federal system. How do these concerns affect morale and retention among current members?

[Brian Sauvé]

I don't know if they would have an impact on retention from a member's perspective. From an organization's perspective, our concern is misapplication of medical information shared from Veterans Affairs that could lead an organization such as the RCMP to make rash decisions with respect to fitness for duty, leading to an unreasonable or early medical discharge. In the retention from the RCMP side, they might be discharging more based on erroneous information. From a morale perspective, the best way to put this is.... Personally, I have trust issues. I think our membership also have trust issues with the RCMP being able to equally and fairly implement health services and occupational health services. That's probably from the morale perspective. They're worried about not being treated fairly or equitably through the RCMP system.

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

If the government does manage to hire 1,000 new officers, could the changes in Bill C-15 in recruitment potentially worsen the staffing challenges that the force is already feeling?

[Brian Sauvé]

They could lead to a greater issue with retirements and resignations, if you will, yes.

[Sukhman Gill, Conservative, Abbotsford—South Langley, BC]

I want to finish off with a fairly simple question. I know you might get a little lengthier on this, but if Parliament wanted to improve recruitment and retention, what amendments to Bill C-15 would you recommend? What strategies would you put forth to encourage young Canadians to join the RCMP while keeping experienced officers also motivated and staying on the force?

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

You have about 15 seconds, Mr. Sauvé.

[Brian Sauvé]

I think a lot of things are being done right already. For example, the cadet training allowance is almost doubling. We will probably see an increase in interest in applicants to the RCMP over the next year.

As far as retention goes, I think it's treating people with fairness in what already exists, so your diagnosis, your benefits and your medical information are with the provider of that benefit, meaning Veterans Affairs, not necessarily with your employer.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

Thank you very much.

Madam Acan, you have six minutes, please.

[Sima Acan, Liberal, Oakville West, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Welcome again, Mr. Sauvé.

We are all heartbroken by the devastating tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. Our thoughts are with the victims, the injured and everyone who was affected, as my colleague Mr. Gill stated in his opening. Violence has no place in our communities. As the RCMP continues its investigation, Canadians are standing by our neighbours in Tumbler Ridge in solidarity and in support.

I also would like to thank once again our brave first responders who were at the scene helping the victims and their families.

My question will be on budget 2025 and how it provides additional expenditures of $184 million over four years to retain temporary staff who were originally hired to address backlogs in the processing of disability claims with division 21 confirming Veterans Affairs Canada as the decision-maker for the RCMP disability pension awards.

It is important to understand how these investments will affect the delivery of services. Will this investment and the clarity provided help to reduce the disability claims backlog and improve timely, consistent decision-making for RCMP members?

Would you make a comment on that? Do you see any value in these investments and how they would be of help?

[Brian Sauvé]

I do. There is a backlog with Veterans Affairs for application, adjudication and communication of whatever the decision is to the applicant, so whatever we can do collectively to improve that service delivery I think is a benefit to our members and also a benefit to other clients of Veterans Affairs Canada, and that's a positive.

[Sima Acan, Liberal, Oakville West, ON]

Thank you.

Division 21 of the bill establishes new conditions under the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Superannuation Act. Personal information may be disclosed to handle compensation claims.

Given the sensitivity of the data, could you please speak to the safeguards in place that will ensure that RCMP members' information continues to be protected when it's shared across the departments?

[Brian Sauvé]

That's my concern. It's my largest concern with this piece of legislation. The way I see it and the way we've read it, there are no protections being placed in the legislation.

For context, for example, Veterans Affairs is where a member applies for a disability benefit. They reach out to the RCMP to receive information such as an injury report that happened in a police car crash, which is shared with Veterans Affairs to assist in the determination of that injury or disability application. Veterans Affairs makes its adjudication and provides a response to the member, and then shares back with the RCMP the name, the regimental number, the diagnosis and the determination. It doesn't share any of the information that is provided by the member to make that determination, any of the application information or the percentage of disability, for example.

Veterans Affairs Canada operates on a table of disabilities. You can have a 25% disability for post-traumatic stress disorder and 20% for hearing loss. Someone at the RCMP could infer that you are 45% disabled, because you have a 25% and a 20%, which is not true at all. The fear is that, by sharing that information, we end up in a world where the employer, the RCMP, is saying that they are no longer fit to be a police officer; therefore, off they go versus getting treatment, getting care and having access to that care, so the worry is the oversharing of information without protections in place.

[Sima Acan, Liberal, Oakville West, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Sauvé.

As stated in the budget, and as my colleague Mr. Gill also asked you about, 1,000 RCMP officers and an additional 1,000 CBSA officers will be hired throughout this year if the budget is approved.

My experience is with the RCMP, because I go out with the police frequently to understand better. I also recently had the privilege of visiting the Cornwall port of entry, where I saw first-hand the important work that the RCMP and the CBSA are doing together, and what they are doing to curb smuggling.

This committee has heard testimonies about the need for consistent funding to support our frontline RCMP officers and how much investment strengthens the agency's operational capacity. With that in mind, budget 2025 represents a meaningful first step towards providing our federal law enforcement agencies with the resources and supports they need.

Could you please expand on the answer you previously gave to Mr. Gill and speak to how these investments, like the cadet recruitment allowance, are the first steps towards enhancing officer capacity to detect, disrupt and ultimately stop criminal activity, especially in sensitive areas like Cornwall?

[The Chair, Liberal, Jean-Yves Duclos]

Again, answer in about 15 seconds.

[Brian Sauvé]

I might be able to respond in 20 seconds.

I can clarify. It's my understanding that the 1,000 new personnel, which I think should be 1,000 new police officers, is over a three-year period. It's not immediately in the first year. The cadet training allowance had not been increased in 18 years, so it's a welcome increase for those who are leaving their families for six months in Regina to have $1,000 a week versus $500 a week.

All of those are good moves in the right direction to accomplish the goal of increased border security, increased frontline capacity, increased proceeds of crime investigations, increased cybersecurity and all of that great stuff.