Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, and members of the committee.
I would like to thank you for inviting me to appear before your committee. I would like to introduce Superintendent Lynn Lemieux and Garry Roy, who are sitting in the gallery. They are accompanying me today. Mr. Roy acts as our RCMP liaison with Veterans Affairs Canada. Superintendent Lemieux is the acting director general of the occupational health and safety branch at the RCMP.
I would also like to acknowledge the presence of two of my colleagues, Staff Sergeants Abraham Townsend and Michael Casault, from our Staff Relations Representative Program—which represents our membership—as well as Bill Gidley, Executive Director, RCMP Veterans' Association.
In brief, I would like to provide committee members with some information about how health benefits are administered in the RCMP.
As you are well aware, the majority of Canadian citizens receive their health care coverage under the provincial health care plans. RCMP members are excluded from the Canada Health Act, and as such, the RCMP is responsible for ensuring that health care is available to its members. Section 83 of the RCMP Regulations grants authority to the RCMP commissioner to approve medical and dental treatment programs for its regular and special constable members. Furthermore, the RCMP is also responsible for health costs for any civilian member who is injured in the performance of his or her duties, to the extent that the treatment is not covered by the provincial medical or hospital insurance plans.
Once RCMP officers retire, they are included under the provisions of the Canada Health Act and they receive their health care from their respective provincial health care plans.
At this juncture, I would like to highlight the important role Veterans Affairs Canada plays in regard to RCMP veterans and still-serving members. Veterans Affairs Canada provides medical and pension benefits for those regular members who retired from the force with work-related disabilities through an administrative arrangement with the RCMP. Serving RCMP members who suffer from a work-related disability are eligible for disability pension administered by Veterans Affairs Canada.
Furthermore, since 2005, members of the RCMP who are medically discharged from the force have had the right to be deemed a priority for employment in the public service under the provisions of section 8 of the Public Service Employment Regulations. Under this regulation, a member who is released or discharged for medical reasons can be considered for priority placement in a public service position, provided he or she meets the essential qualifications for that position. This gives these former members an opportunity to have a career in the public service.
Thank you for the opportunity to address this committee today. I welcome any questions you may have.