On November 21-22, 2022, the national RCMP Contract Management Committee (CMC) met to discuss issues related to the Police Services Agreements and policing more broadly in Canada. Relevant items were subsequently discussed by the B.C. Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee (LGCMC), and are summarized in this article.
CMC Roundtable Discussion
The roundtable offered an opportunity for CMC members to share their concerns related to the cost, governance, management, and administration of the Police Services Agreements. Contract partners highlighted areas of common concern, including vacancy management, the next RCMP Collective Agreement, and the need for the RCMP to provide key metrics and data. Also noted was the rising cost of policing, and the importance of cost containment.
Federal Review of RCMP Contract Policing
The Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Marco Mendicino, has received a mandate to “conduct an assessment of contract policing in consultation with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous partners and stakeholders.” The assessment will focus on governance, program sustainability and cost, program vision beyond 2032 and service delivery.
Public Safety Canada (PSC) representatives advised, at the November CMC meeting, that this review is likely to begin in early 2023.
Next Round of RCMP Collective Bargaining
Federal Treasury Board Secretariat presented an overview of the first round of negotiations, while also highlighting anticipated issues for the next round. Provinces, territories and local governments maintained the need for improved communication and engagement as part of the next round of negotiations. Although negotiations are confidential and therefore impacts are difficult to determine, it is anticipated that financial impacts related to compensation will be minimal compared to those associated with the first RCMP Collective Agreement.
CMC-Related Communication and Engagement with Local Governments
Local governments outside B.C. contract directly with PSC for policing services, and do not have a feedback mechanism similar to the LGCMC. Many of these local governments have raised concerns with the level of communication at CMC. As a result, PSC is seeking to improve communication and information sharing with local governments. Given the role of the LGCMC in B.C. as an established engagement process, this issue does not impact local governments in B.C. as much as those in the rest of the country.
2021-2022 Five Year Review
PSC and contract partners discussed options for addressing issues included as part of the Five Year Review (e.g. vacancy management, recovering and invoicing process, review of RCMP administration). Contract partners are seeking a workplan and timelines to address the many unresolved issues.
RCMP Recruitment and Vacancies
The RCMP delivered a presentation on steps being taken to address vacancies and recruitment. The current focus is on reducing the recruitment timeline and barriers in the process. Some of the strategies to advance these goals include improving the evaluation of recruits (e.g. updating the characteristics, attributes and skills needed for modern policing), and implementing modern screening and processing tools. The Experienced Officer Program, which expedites the placement of qualified officers, is also available as a short-term solution. The RCMP have established a Recruitment Modernization Team to oversee this work.
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki’s Remarks
Some of the key items raised by the Commissioner at the November CMC meeting included recruitment challenges, contract partner concerns with the RCMP Collective Agreement, and the importance of consultation as part of the upcoming assessment of RCMP contract policing.
Body Worn Cameras
The RCMP provided an update and timeline for the implementation of body worn cameras (BWC). Once a vendor is confirmed, a pilot project is expected to begin in the coming months in three provinces (Nunavut, Nova Scotia & Alberta). If the pilot project is successful, the vendor will receive a six-year contract. Once a vendor is confirmed, the RCMP will be able to finalize annual costs, which are expected to be upwards of $3000 per BWC.
Contract partners continued to discuss the federal government’s funding package, which will lapse in April 2024 regardless of when full implementation occurs.