PACP Committee Report

Recommendation 1

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police provide the Public Accounts Committee a detailed status report by March 31, 2008 on the implementation of the Auditor General’s recommendations from the November 2006 Report, Chapter 9. This report should contain confirmation of whether those who participated in the golf game at St. Andrews by the Sea have reimbursed the RCMP pension fund for the benefit they inappropriately received.

Recommendation 2

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police review all transactions charged against the pension plan in the fiscal years 2000-2001 through 2003-2004, and reimburse any amounts that should have been more appropriately charged elsewhere.

Recommendation 3

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police commend Assistant Commissioner Bruce Rogerson for his efforts to put an end to the acceptance of gifts and hospitality by senior members of the RCMP; that the RCMP restore all people who were demoted or removed to their original positions as promptly as possible, if those who were demoted or removed so wish.

Recommendation 4

The House of Commons denounce the lack of leadership shown by former Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli during the investigation into malfeasance in the administration of the RCMP’s pension and insurance plans.

RECOMMENDATION 5

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police clarify the procedures for reporting breaches of the Code of Conduct pursuant to the RCMP Regulations and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the procedures for disclosing wrongdoings pursuant to the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act.

Recommendation 6

The Government of Canada should amend the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act to allow a Royal Canadian Mounted Police member to file a complaint of reprisal with the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, regardless of whether there are ongoing proceedings under the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act. Furthermore, the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner and the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Tribunal should be provided with the full authority to deal with such complaints.

Recommendation 7

Any Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act proceedings against the member should be suspended until the complaint of reprisal has been dealt with under the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act. Moreover, where the complaint is found to have merit, the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Tribunal should have the authority to dismiss or discontinue the RCMP Act proceedings.

Recommendation 8

Consequential amendments should be made to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act to ensure that the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act prevails where an RCMP member files a complaint of reprisal with the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner.

Recommendation 9

The Government of Canada amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act to provide the Royal Canadian Mounted Police External Review Committee with adjudication powers whose decisions are binding and final.

Recommendation 10

The Auditor General of Canada conduct an audit of the contracting practices at Consulting and Audit Canada during the past ten years.

Recommendation 11

All Royal Canadian Mounted Police members and employees with any level of contracting authority undergo specific training in the Treasury Board’s Contracting Policy.

Recommendation 12

All Government of Canada contracts include a clause that states that the contractor must act in accordance with the Treasury Board Contracting Policy.

Recommendation 13

The Government of Canada investigate whether or not monies can be recovered from contractors or individuals who received inappropriate benefits.

Recommendation 14

The Government of Canada require all contractors and any subsequent sub-contractors to confirm that neither they nor any of their employees would be in violation of the post-employment rules as set out in the Treasury Board Contracting Policy if they were awarded a contract.

Recommendation 15

The Government of Canada permanently bar from future contracts a contractor who has been found to have engaged in misconduct while carrying out his or her duties, or who has colluded with a public servant in committing an act of misconduct.

Recommendation 16

The Government of Canada permanently bar from having contracting authority public servants who have been found to have engaged in misconduct in the performance of their duties or who have colluded with contractors in committing an act of misconduct.

Recommendation 17

The Treasury Board Secretariat ensure that departments comply with the departmental reporting Guidelines so as to make sure that the Departmental Performance Reports contain balanced reporting.

Recommendation 18

The Royal Canadian Mounted Policy initiate a Code of Conduct investigation into the allegation that the minutes of the March 15, 2005 Insurance Committee meeting were altered.

Recommendation 19

The Government of Canada ask the Ontario Provincial Police to complete the investigation into the insurance plan, which should include a forensic audit, so as to fully examine the irregularities in the outsourcing of the administration of the insurance plan.

Recommendation 20

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police provide the Committee a status report by March 31, 2008 on the efforts to clarify the authorities in the administration of the RCMP’s insurance plans.

Recommendation 21

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police open the contract to administer the RCMP insurance plans to competition when the current contract ends.

Recommendation 22

The Public Service Labour Relations Act and Treasury Board policies be amended to provide that a public servant dismissed for misconduct will: a) have his or her security clearance revoked; and b) be disentitled to a reference or recommendation for other employment within the public service.

Recommendation 23

The Treasury Board Secretariat initiate a review of its policies on dismissing a public servant with cause so as to clearly allow for the immediate dismissal of any public servant who has engaged in misconduct; and

Recommendation 24

In order to speed up the process for dismissing a public servant for misconduct, the Public Service Labour Relations Act should be amended to provide that any grievance of the dismissal must be referred directly to adjudication within a prescribed time period.

Recommendation 25

The Government of Canada amend section 43(8) of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act to compel the Appropriate Officer to take action upon learning of any contravention of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Code of Conduct within one year or else be subject to sanctions.

Recommendation 26

The Government of Canada strengthen the legislative authority of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP to enable it to conduct self-initiated reviews, as well as to guarantee it the full access to documents and persons that is included in the powers of subpoena.

Recommendation 27

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police provide the Public Accounts Committee with an action plan by May 31, 2008 on how to implement the Information Commissioner’s recommendations.

Recommendation 28

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police provide the additional resources needed by the Access to Information Branch to allow it to fulfill its mandate.

Recommendation 29

The House of Commons denounce the behaviour of all senior Royal Canadian Mounted Police employees who tarnished the credibility of the force through negligence, partiality, or dishonesty: namely, Dominic Crupi, Jim Ewanovich, Paul Gauvin, and Barbara George.

Recommendation 30

The Government of Canada amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act to provide independent authority to the RCMP Ethics Advisor to enable him or her to conduct inquiries into whether allegations of ethical or criminal wrongdoing against RCMP members have been properly investigated. The Ethics Advisor should publish an annual report and have the authority initiate Code of Conduct investigations and to recommend that outside police forces conduct a criminal investigation when warranted.

Recommendation 31

The Government of Canada establish a Police Accountability Board that will provide third-party oversight of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Commissioner of the RCMP would continue to report to the Minister, but would also report to the Board, which, in turn, would report to the Minister and publish a public annual report on the performance of the RCMP, which would be tabled in Parliament.