Evidence of meeting #27 for Veterans Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was vac.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Commissioner Daniel Dubeau  Acting Chief Officer, Human Resources, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Sergeant Michael Casault  National Executive, Staff Relations Representative Program, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
William Gidley  Executive Director, RCMP Veterans' Association
Sergeant Abraham Townsend  National Executive, Staff Relations Representative Program, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Lynn Lemieux  Acting Director General, Occupational Health and Safety Branch, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

4:55 p.m.

A/Commr Daniel Dubeau

I agree totally that we have to find that balance to get the message out. I don't think we can repeat it enough, as I believe one of your colleagues at the table....

Police officers are known to internalize stuff. That's just part of our behaviour, unfortunately. Maybe years ago we were trained to do that. We don't talk very much, so in terms of really getting that whole communication out there—the educational piece that Lynn talked about—it's to try to educate our managers and employees to start looking at each other and start taking care of each other.

We're in 700-plus points of service, and many times we're alone, without other members around there identifying things. We're trying to get the message out to the families. We're continually trying to do that, to get that balance so that people understand.

As to our procedures on the staffing side and whether you're done or you're not done, there might be decisions made if there is a risk to the public or the member. We have to make decisions as an organization not to put them at risk until they can get better.

That is something on the staffing side—the return-to-work side, the accommodation side—that we continue to review, and we are reviewing it; even this year we're reviewing to see if this is the best way of doing it. We're constantly trying to improve on that front as we move forward.

4:55 p.m.

S/Sgt Michael Casault

Just to echo what Assistant Commissioner Dubeau mentioned, I have worked well with Superintendent Lemieux's team with regard to alcohol addiction and abuse. There was abuse of...surrounding identifying members with alcohol-related problems.

We've worked hours hammering out a policy that is acceptable to our program as well as to the organization. I don't know where that policy is just right yet, but when I left in December we were very close to getting it put into place. It deals with the member issue and the organizational issue, as well as the people we police, meaning the public safety issue.

We were just about right there, and it will alleviate a few of the concerns members have when it comes to abuse versus addiction.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

You have time for a brief question, Mr. Lizon.

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

Wladyslaw Lizon Conservative Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON

I have a brief question on a related topic, which is physical injuries that may occur after the member retires or is discharged.

Many of your members serve in remote areas and small places. Do you have any recommendations on how they would record instances that happen there? Of course, if there's not a medical record that would eventually be recognized. If they—

4:55 p.m.

A/Commr Daniel Dubeau

For any member serving, we actually have a document. Any injury has to be filled out and reported to us. That's how it is currently. No matter where you are in the country, that is the policy. You will report it, and then the manager is required to report it to us.

We've gotten really good on the reporting. We can start creating a paper trail, for lack of a better term, so that when a member does go, a legacy file can follow them.

4:55 p.m.

S/Sgt Abraham Townsend

Can I add something?

4:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

Please be brief.

4:55 p.m.

S/Sgt Abraham Townsend

I think part of your question is related to serving members who are now retired. They're getting on in years, and as a result of some of the injuries and abuse their bodies took early in their lives, they are now realizing the negative outcomes. How do we reach out to those people when they're not part of the RCMP retired members association and have little or no knowledge of Veterans Affairs Canada and what services may be available? That's a huge challenge.

I'm sure the nominal role of retired members is available somewhere. Is it available to Mr. Gidley? I'm not sure. Is it available to Veterans Affairs Canada? Is there an outreach program that could be well publicized for these retired members?

Retired members of the Canadian Forces have a better inherent knowledge of Veterans Affairs Canada, whereas our members don't. If transition interviews were mandatory within our organization, they would at least create a go-forward place of knowledge, as opposed to where we are now, with 10,000-odd members retired who may have no knowledge, or minimal knowledge, of what VAC has.

5 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

We are way over our time. Do you want to squeeze a small comment in as a closer?

5 p.m.

S/Sgt Michael Casault

No.

5 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

Did he cover it?

5 p.m.

S/Sgt Michael Casault

It was for him.

5 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr

Okay.

I want to thank you very much for coming today. It has been very helpful for the committee. If a question comes up later, we may send you something in writing to see whether you are able to help us out a little further.

Thank you again, on behalf of all of us.

We will suspend for a minute.

[Proceedings continue in camera]