The Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, today issued the following statement on the tabling of the Government response to the final report of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, entitled Conduct Becoming: Why the Royal Canadian Mounted Police must Transform its Culture.

“The tabling of the Government response to the Committee’s final report is another important step for the RCMP: it highlights the solid progress the RCMP is making in addressing issues of harassment in the workplace.

The RCMP is clearly focused on modernizing its approach to management and leadership; the majority of the Committee’s recommendations are aligned with and complementary to the significant efforts already underway. This is an encouraging sign – demonstrating that the Force is on the right track to creating a healthier, more positive work environment.

The RCMP has made the Enhancing Royal Canadian Mounted Police Accountability Act the cornerstone of its efforts to reinforce a culture that promotes accountability, responsibility and transparency, and a safe, healthy and respectful workplace for its employees. The RCMP is taking advantage of the important tools afforded by the Act to modernize its 25-year-old discipline, grievance and promotion processes, and effectively address harassment complaints and other workplace-related issues.The RCMP is also implementing itsGender and Respect Action Plan which lays out specific milestones to monitor its progress in transforming its culture.

As the Minister responsible for Canada’s national police force, this is an issue that I take very seriously. All RCMP members and employees have the right to feel safe and respected amongst their colleagues and superiors, and Canadians have the right to expect professional and exemplary conduct from their national police service.

I would like to again thank the Committee for their final report and the significant time and effort that went into preparing it. I also thank the many individuals whose testimonies before the Committee contributed to the recommendations. We all share the common goal of ensuring the RCMP remains a national police service we can trust and be proud of.”

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