2005 November Report of the Auditor General of Canada

Setting priorities and measuring and reporting performance

1.26 The RCMP should, in consultation with the concerned province or territory, establish community plans with representatives of each community it serves, setting out the community's expectations for performance and the RCMP's commitments, their mutual priorities, how progress will be measured, and actions to be taken if the expectations are not achieved.
(1.16–1.25)

We agree. The RCMP recognizes the value of community plans as they facilitate continued communication between the RCMP and the community concerning police services and the community's policing expectations.

The Police Service Agreement states the establishment of policing priorities is the responsibility of the contracting jurisdiction and therefore, the contracting jurisdictions will have to be consulted.

The recommendation to implement community plans will be discussed with the contracting jurisdictions at the Contract Advisory Committee meetings in February 2006 and June 2006.

1.27 The RCMP should track its progress toward meeting the agreed-upon performance expectations and should report to the client regularly.
(1.16–1.25)

We agree. As per Article 4.2 of the Provincial Police Service Agreement, the RCMP is obligated to meet regularly with representatives of the Provincial jurisdiction to discuss a variety of issues pertaining to the delivery of policing services including outcomes.

The community plans referred to in Recommendation 1.26 contain a mechanism to track performance expectations and report to the communities. As per the PPSA, this aspect will be discussed with the contracting jurisdictions at the Contract Advisory Committee meetings in February 2006 and June 2006.

Managing human resources

1.34 The RCMP should, in consultation with each province or territory, clearly define its minimum standard for policing as stated in the Provincial Police Service Agreement.
(1.31–1.33)

We agree. The RCMP defines the "minimum standard" as the minimum number of resources required to provide policing services within a contract jurisdiction. Every year consultation occurs between the contracting jurisdictions and the RCMP, to determine the level of policing services. Should a contracting jurisdiction indicate a desire to reduce the level of policing service to a level, which is assessed by the RCMP to be below an acceptable and safe level, the "minimum standard" is determined using the variables identified in the Provincial Police Service Agreement: Interpretation and Administrative Procedures.

The Police Service Agreement provides that this is an area where the contracting jurisdictions have an interest. Consultation will take place at the next Contract Advisory Committee discussions in February 2006 and June 2006.

1.46 The RCMP should, in consultation with the concerned province or territory, take action to ensure that it has the capacity to respond to staff absences and human resource shortages.
(1.38–1.45)

We agree. The RCMP is working to increase capacity at its training facilities to meet our existing and emerging human resource needs. In addition, we are pursuing opportunities to augment this through an increase in lateral entries and expanded use of the reserve program.

Consultation with the provinces and territories is ongoing and is particularly critical during the Annual Reference Level Update (ARLU) process, whereby resource requirements are better refined for the purposes of forecasting needs and resources.

To ensure accurate and timely human resource information, we are examining our information management systems for enhanced business intelligence opportunities to enable the improved tracing of short-term and long-term absences.

1.53 The RCMP should take immediate action to ensure that it complies with the Canada Labour Code, Part II.
(1.47–1.52)

We agree. Efforts are being made to update our national human resource information management system so as to provide a more accurate picture of our status and to improve compliance mechanisms. At the same time, any identified gaps in Canada Labour Code training for employees and supervisors are being addressed.

1.55 The RCMP should ensure that all newly graduated cadets receive the full field coaching program as required.
(1.54)

We agree. The RCMP has a National Field Coaching Program Coordinator in place to manage and implement a modern, six-month Field Coaching program. The process, which pairs newly-graduated cadets with a member who has successfully completed the Field Coaching Course, will be a pre-requisite reflected in the revised policy, with implementation to follow in the next fiscal year.

1.59 The RCMP should ensure that all peace officers remain up-to-date in their mandatory training requalification and recertification.
(1.56–1.58)

We agree. The RCMP recognizes the importance of ensuring a ready workforce and is taking action to address gaps in training and data collection. As per the Canada Labour Code, Part II, the RCMP's national Policy Health and Safety Committee continues to closely monitor progress on this training and is working to ensure compliance.

Billing for services provided

1.65 The RCMP should ensure that it interprets the billing formulas in contract policing agreements, so that the formulas are applied consistently from client to client.
(1.61–1.64)

We agree. The RCMP will ensure that all billing formulas are applied consistently to all clients as per the Policing Agreements.

1.68 The RCMP and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada should jointly develop a formal dispute-resolution process for the federal government to ensure that issues are dealt with as they emerge.
(1.66–1.67)

We agree. While Article 16 of the Police Service Agreements provides a formal dispute resolution mechanism for resolving disputes between the federal government and contract jurisdictions, the RCMP and PSEPC will work together over the coming months to develop a formal dispute resolution process for the federal government to deal with federal issues as they emerge.

1.76 The RCMP should seek a means of clearly separating the funding, measurement, and reporting of its contract policing activities to avoid adverse impacts on its other activities when contract policing costs change.
(1.71–1.75)

We agree. The RCMP, in consultation with Treasury Board Secretariat, is actively pursuing all viable options to distinctly separate Contract Policing from the other RCMP program activities.

Aboriginal policing

1.84 Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada should ensure that policing contracts for Aboriginal communities reflect the specific priorities of these communities and commitments for RCMP policing are realistic. The RCMP should also establish community plans specific to Aboriginal communities, as described in one of the earlier recommendations (paragraph 1.26).
(1.80–1.83)

We agree. First Nation input on the special needs of their communities has already been obtained and should be reflected in all new and renewed community tripartite agreements, starting in 2006–07. In addition, as part of the overall program evaluation, the department is presently reviewing the Band Constable Program and the Aboriginal Community Constable Program, which provide additional alternatives for addressing specific needs of communities. A decision on these programs will be made by January 2007.

With reference to the recommendation that the RCMP implement community plans, this issue will be discussed with the contracting jurisdictions at the Contract Advisory Committee meetings in February 2006 and June 2006.

1.87 Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada should formally include the RCMP in negotiating all new, and renewing all existing community tripartite agreements. In considering commitments, the RCMP should advise on the extent that it can address community priorities with proposed resources.
(1.85–1.86)

We agree. The new Service Agreements will address this recommendation. Since the agreements will be signed by the Detachment Commander, the RCMP will have full opportunity to participate in the process and provide advice on the extent to which the RCMP can address community priorities.

1.90 Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada should monitor the RCMP's delivery of community tripartite agreement policing services to ensure that commitments are fulfilled.
(1.88–1.89)

We agree. The department is developing a monitoring package, which will be fully implemented in 2006–07, along with Service Agreements and RCMP Community Plans. At the outset, the new process, will require each Regional Manager to make a site visit to all the communities with which the department has a police service agreement.

1.93 Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada should clarify its policy and program responsibilities for Aboriginal policing in the North. This should include whether the First Nations Policing Policy and community tripartite agreements apply to the territories.
(1.91–1.92)

We agree. In June 2005, the Federal/Provincial/Territorial (F/P/T) Deputy Ministers approved the creation of a working group of the F/P/T Assistant Deputy Ministers' Committee on Policing Issues to address the question of the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of the First Nation Policing Policy. The Working Group, as part of its assignment, will look at policing in the Territories, including links to self-government. The Working Group is expected to conclude its work and present a final report by the Spring of 2007. At that time, the department will be better placed to decide on whether to expand the program to the Territories.