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Global News
25 minutes ago
- Global News
RCMP union pushes for changes to help attract talent from U.S., other countries
The union representing front-line Royal Canadian Mounted Police members wants the force to ease requirements for foreign applicants to help attract experienced police officers from agencies like the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and counterparts in the United Kingdom and Australia. The RCMP currently requires that applicants be Canadian citizens or have permanent resident status in Canada. Applicants with permanent resident status must have lived in Canada as a permanent resident for three of the last five years. The National Police Federation says the RCMP should follow the lead of the Canadian Armed Forces, which in 2022 opened applications to permanent residents without any requirement on time spent in Canada. Federation president Brian Sauvé said he's 'pretty sure we can attract some good talent' through a similar move by the RCMP. Sauvé compares the idea to federal immigration programs that seek to entice skilled workers to come to Canada. Story continues below advertisement 'If this government has identified public safety, border security and all that stuff as an imperative, we can do the same thing, right?' Sauvé said in a recent interview. 'We have equivalency training. You can come from Manchester, you can come from New South Wales, you can come from, I don't know, the FBI. And we'll train you to be equivalent, to give you a job and put you in a role.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We have equivalency training. You can come from Manchester, you can come from New South Wales, you can come from, I don't know, the FBI. And we'll train you to be equivalent, to give you a job and put you in a role." 1:59 RCMP shortage impacts rural Manitoba communities The proposal is one of several ideas the police federation presented in a June report aimed at improving the RCMP's recruitment practices, funding model, training programs and procurement. The federation says independent reports over the past two decades have offered the federal government clear guidance on how to improve RCMP operations in these areas. 'Yet time and again, these recommendations have been met with inaction or insufficient follow-through,' the June report says. 'As a result, long-standing issues persisted and were allowed to worsen.' Story continues below advertisement Public Safety Canada spokesperson Max Watson said the department is committed to working with the RCMP and others to ensure the force 'is equipped to meet evolving public safety needs.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The federation is calling for a streamlined and modernized RCMP application processing system, more training capacity and an increase in the cadet training allowance to about $1,200 a week from the current $525. The federation says it wants more flexibility for some new recruits, such as people from other law enforcement agencies, to make it easier for them to fit into the RCMP. 2:07 New initiative at RCMP Depot focuses on removing systemic barriers For instance, the federation notes only serving or recently inactive police officers can apply through the RCMP's three-week experienced police officer program, provided they meet strict criteria. That excludes a large pool of well-trained public safety personnel, including members of the Canada Border Services Agency, provincial sheriffs, conservation officers and other law enforcement agents who may not meet the threshold, the report says. Story continues below advertisement Forcing these candidates to repeat a full 26-week training program at the RCMP training depot 'creates a barrier to recruitment and results in missed opportunities to bring skilled, experienced candidates into the RCMP,' the report adds. It also says the federal procurement process is too slow and unresponsive to the urgent needs of modern policing, and drains valuable government resources. 'Delays in rolling out life-saving equipment, including service pistols, body armour and body-worn cameras, threaten both officer safety and public trust,' the report says. 1:53 RCMP working to tackle high vacancy rate During the spring election campaign, the Liberals promised to recruit 1,000 more RCMP personnel to tackle drug and human trafficking, foreign interference, cybercrime and car thefts by organized crime. The Liberals also pledged to create a new RCMP academy in Regina and increase pay for cadet recruits. Story continues below advertisement Watson acknowledged the promise to hire more Mounties and said Public Safety recognizes the importance of cadet pay in broader efforts to support recruitment and retention. The RCMP did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. The police force has been told to trim two per cent of its budget as part of a governmentwide cost-cutting exercise. Sauvé said he is 'cautiously optimistic' the Liberal government will follow through on its commitment to strengthen law enforcement, set out in a May mandate letter. 1:42 RCMP report 2% vacancy rate, influx in recruits in Saskatchewan The RCMP provides policing services through contracts with all provinces and territories, except Ontario and Quebec. RCMP policing agreements cover much of rural Canada, all of the North and many towns and municipalities in contract provinces. Story continues below advertisement The police federation acknowledges that some continue to ask whether the RCMP should shed its contract policing role across Canada and become more like the FBI by focusing on federal criminal matters. In March, before Mark Carney became prime minister, the Liberals published a paper outlining a new vision for the RCMP. It suggested the force concentrate on federal policing, reflecting its 'essential mandate and where it is best placed to lead investigations.' The federation flatly rejects the idea. 'The RCMP's integrated pan-Canadian policing model remains one of its greatest strengths, due to its ability to leverage co-ordination, consistency and efficiency across all jurisdictions,' the June report says. It argues that moving away from the current model 'would create deep service gaps, duplication and costly public safety and economic inefficiencies with no evidence of better results.' The federation calls for dedicated funding for federal policing, saying RCMP officers carrying out those duties must no longer be used to backstop vacancies in contract jurisdictions. 'Federal assets should be used solely for federal mandates,' the report says.
Vancouver Sun
2 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
RCMP union pushes for change to help force attract talent from U.S., other countries
OTTAWA — The union representing front-line RCMP members wants the force to ease requirements for foreign applicants to help attract experienced police officers from agencies like the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and counterparts in the United Kingdom and Australia. The RCMP currently requires that applicants be Canadian citizens or have permanent resident status in Canada. Applicants with permanent resident status must have lived in Canada as a permanent resident for three of the last five years. The National Police Federation says the RCMP should follow the lead of the Canadian Armed Forces, which in 2022 opened applications to permanent residents without any requirement on time spent in Canada. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Federation president Brian Sauve said he's 'pretty sure we can attract some good talent' through a similar move by the RCMP. Sauve compares the idea to federal immigration programs that seek to entice skilled workers to come to Canada. 'If this government has identified public safety, border security and all that stuff as an imperative, we can do the same thing, right?' Sauve said in a recent interview. 'We have equivalency training. You can come from Manchester, you can come from New South Wales, you can come from, I don't know, the FBI. And we'll train you to be equivalent, to give you a job and put you in a role.' The proposal is one of several ideas the police federation presented in a June report aimed at improving the RCMP's recruitment practices, funding model, training programs and procurement. The federation says independent reports over the past two decades have offered the federal government clear guidance on how to improve RCMP operations in these areas. 'Yet time and again, these recommendations have been met with inaction or insufficient follow-through,' the June report says. 'As a result, long-standing issues persisted and were allowed to worsen.' Public Safety Canada spokesperson Max Watson said the department is committed to working with the RCMP and others to ensure the force 'is equipped to meet evolving public safety needs.' The federation is calling for a streamlined and modernized RCMP application processing system, more training capacity and an increase in the cadet training allowance to about $1,200 a week from the current $525. The federation says it wants more flexibility for some new recruits, such as people from other law enforcement agencies, to make it easier for them to fit into the RCMP. For instance, the federation notes only serving or recently inactive police officers can apply through the RCMP's three-week experienced police officer program, provided they meet strict criteria. That excludes a large pool of well-trained public safety personnel, including members of the Canada Border Services Agency, provincial sheriffs, conservation officers and other law enforcement agents who may not meet the threshold, the report says. Forcing these candidates to repeat a full 26-week training program at the RCMP training depot 'creates a barrier to recruitment and results in missed opportunities to bring skilled, experienced candidates into the RCMP,' the report adds. It also says the federal procurement process is too slow and unresponsive to the urgent needs of modern policing, and drains valuable government resources. 'Delays in rolling out life-saving equipment, including service pistols, body armour and body-worn cameras, threaten both officer safety and public trust,' the report says. During the spring election campaign, the Liberals promised to recruit 1,000 more RCMP personnel to tackle drug and human trafficking, foreign interference, cybercrime and car thefts by organized crime. The Liberals also pledged to create a new RCMP academy in Regina and increase pay for cadet recruits. Watson acknowledged the promise to hire more Mounties and said Public Safety recognizes the importance of cadet pay in broader efforts to support recruitment and retention. The RCMP did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. The police force has been told to trim two per cent of its budget as part of a governmentwide cost-cutting exercise. Sauve said he is 'cautiously optimistic' the Liberal government will follow through on its commitment to strengthen law enforcement, set out in a May mandate letter. The RCMP provides policing services through contracts with all provinces and territories, except Ontario and Quebec. RCMP policing agreements cover much of rural Canada, all of the North and many towns and municipalities in contract provinces. The police federation acknowledges that some continue to ask whether the RCMP should shed its contract policing role across Canada and become more like the FBI by focusing on federal criminal matters. In March, before Mark Carney became prime minister, the Liberals published a paper outlining a new vision for the RCMP. It suggested the force concentrate on federal policing, reflecting its 'essential mandate and where it is best placed to lead investigations.' The federation flatly rejects the idea 'The RCMP's integrated pan-Canadian policing model remains one of its greatest strengths, due to its ability to leverage co-ordination, consistency and efficiency across all jurisdictions,' the June report says. It argues that moving away from the current model 'would create deep service gaps, duplication and costly public safety and economic inefficiencies with no evidence of better results.' The federation calls for dedicated funding for federal policing, saying RCMP officers carrying out those duties must no longer be used to backstop vacancies in contract jurisdictions. 'Federal assets should be used solely for federal mandates,' the report says. 'If federal members are redeployed for non-federal purposes, those services must be cost-recovered from contract partners.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Toronto Sun
3 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Pay hike for military members 'long overdue,' says expert
Published Aug 09, 2025 • 2 minute read A Canadian flag patch is shown on a soldier's shoulder in Trenton, Ont., on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014. Photo by Lars Hagberg / THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — The federal government's decision to boost entry-level pay for Canadian Armed Forces members is being praised by expert observers as long overdue. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account On Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government will hike entry-level pay for Canadian Armed Forces privates by 20 per cent for the regular force and 13 per cent for reservists. The new pay hikes will be retroactive to April 1 this year. Fen Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University, said the pay increases were a long time in coming, especially at the lower level. He said that if the government is going to be spending a lot more money on defence, boosting pay — particularly at the entry level — is 'a good way to do it.' Given the Canadian Armed Forces' struggles with recruitment and recent reports indicating the military has seen a surge in hateful conduct and racism in the ranks, Hampson said it's wise to 'up the ante' on salaries to encourage more people to sign up. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Hampson said boosting salaries alone won't get the government to the NATO target 'in the context of an economy that is obviously beginning to slow down.' He cited new data shared by Statistics Canada Friday that said Canada shed 41,000 jobs last month. Carney also said that colonels and those in higher positions will receive an eight per cent raise and lieutenant-colonels and those below that rank will receive a 13 per cent raise. The pay hikes are part of a plan to boost recruitment and operational readiness. 'All members of the Canadian Armed Forces will receive a pay raise,' Carney said Friday. 'These increases, in pay and incentives, will help us to revitalize and transform recruitment and retention, to bolster force readiness and to ensure that members in uniform have the confidence and certainty that they need.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Federal bureaucrats told journalists in a technical briefing that the new compensation package is expected to cost around $2 billion annually. It's part of a planned $9.3 billion budget boost this year to get to NATO's defence spending benchmark of two per cent of GDP. The government also said it's creating new military allowances and enhancing existing ones to help it retain personnel and drive up recruitment in a competitive job market. Those allowances include $50,000 in bonuses for people entering and working in what the government calls 'stressed occupations' — critical jobs in sectors that are seeing too many vacancies. The government says staffing levels in 53 of 116 critical occupations, which include vehicle and maritime technicians, are now below 75 per cent. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. David Perry, president and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said the government has done 'a bunch of smart things' on recruitment. He said it was wise to scale the pay increase because an across-the-board hike would 'probably not really have been a smart use of additional funds.' Defence Minister David McGuinty pitched a 20 per cent pay raise earlier this summer. The measures Carney announced Friday only increase pay for one tranche of members based on rank. Perry said it's also a good idea to woo people into understaffed parts of the military with targeted incentives. 'I think that makes sense,' he said, adding that he thinks the pay hikes will make a 'significant difference' in making entry level positions more attractive. — With files from Kyle Duggan Toronto Blue Jays Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Editorials Tennis
