The House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security met to study Divisions 19 and 21 of Bill C-15, the budget implementation act, focusing on changes to RCMP disability pensions and information sharing. Brian Sauvé, President of the National Police Federation, appeared as the sole witness.
Brian Sauvé expressed deep concern about Division 21, which authorizes broad information sharing between Veterans Affairs Canada, the Minister of Public Safety, and the RCMP commissioner, arguing the provisions lack privacy safeguards and limiting definitions. He noted that while the Privacy Commissioner confirmed the Privacy Act still applies, this offers little comfort to members who may have their medical information misused by their employer. Sauvé recommended codifying the existing memorandum of understanding that limits information sharing to one-directional flows, rather than expanding it. He also criticized Division 19 for replacing the long-standing pension indexation formula with a CPI-only model effective January 1, 2027, which he said saves $5.8 billion over four years at the expense of injured members, and noted that unlike Canadian Armed Forces members who were grandfathered under previous rules, RCMP members receive no such protection. He called for a grandfather clause for all current disability pension recipients and questioned why the bill includes a provision permitting retroactive regulations, creating uncertainty for members planning their finances.
On recruitment and retention, Sauvé confirmed that funding for the promised 1,000 new RCMP officers has not yet been approved, though the RCMP plans to increase cadet training from 40 to 50 or 55 troops per year. He welcomed the doubling of the cadet training allowance but said more resources are needed, noting a Senate report recommended 3,000 additional officers. He also raised concerns that contract policing jurisdictions have been blocking members from transferring to federal policing roles, though he believes this argument no longer holds as Depot graduation rates recover. Sauvé disagreed with the government's framing that the CPI-only model is sufficient, arguing that the current system using the greater of CPI or federal wage growth has been used six times in 20 years and provides meaningful protection for retirees and their spouses receiving death benefits. He also urged the government to restart its review of the First Nations policing program and make it an essential service to ensure consistent funding and recruitment.
The committee discussed next steps for submitting recommendations to the Standing Committee on Finance, with members noting a deadline had been set and asking about scheduling the Minister of Public Safety for a future appearance.
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