(Ottawa) Despite the major criticisms that have recently been leveled at it, the RCMP hopes to take advantage of its 150e anniversary to stimulate recruitment.
In its report released last week, the Public Inquiry into the April 2020 shooting in Nova Scotia torpedoed federal policing for its many failures in how it responded to Canada’s worst mass shooting. She recommended that the federal government rethink the central role of the RCMP.
The report was released two months before the 150e RCMP anniversary, May 23.
Documents obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act indicate that the Mounted Police have been preparing for this jubilee since last summer. And she does not intend to adjust her plans in light of recent criticism.
The various sections of the RCMP plan to hold rallies. The Federal Police has also ordered thousands of souvenir cards and commemorative coins for its members.
She also hopes to convince Google to post a cartoon of the RCMP on its search bar. It is also counting on sports leagues such as the Canadian Football League to mark the anniversary.
The RCMP hopes that this anniversary will stimulate recruitment for the next two years.
“This is an important moment for the RCMP and our country. Canada’s 156-year history cannot be told without the contribution of the RCMP over the past 150 years,” a document read.
Robin Percival, a spokeswoman, says the federal police want to acknowledge its historic past, celebrate its members and highlight its modernization. It also intends to make progress in reconciliation with Aboriginal peoples and to highlight its pride in its members.
Our approach to celebrating our 150e anniversary is based on a few fundamental themes and a few objectives. Nothing has been changed in light of the report [de la Commission sur la tuerie de masse]. As an organization, we collectively have things to learn from the report. We will continue to improve for all Canadians.
Robin Percival, spokesperson for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Jeffrey Monaghan, a criminology professor at Carleton University, predicts the image of the RCMP will be “romanticized” during its next birthday, at a time when its very existence hangs in the balance.
According to him, wanting to link the history of the RCMP to that of Canada creates an obstacle to reforms within the institution.
“Certain people and certain aspects of the organization have become very invested in this romantic and benevolent myth of the Mounted Police,” he says.
The pr Monaghan laments that the RCMP has become a big “policing bureaucracy” dealing with everything from national security to ensuring northern communities have access to a court.
One of the few solutions is to ask the RCMP to carry out fewer missions.
The National Police Federation (NPF), the union that represents RCMP officers, has yet to respond directly to the commission’s recommendation to abandon the current 26-week training model in Regina. This Training Academy would be replaced by a three-year diploma-based education model, as exists in Finland.
Responding to The Canadian Press on the 150e anniversary, NPF President Brian Sauvé said it takes time to sort out recruiting issues. He made this statement before the publication of the report.
Mr. Sauvé maintains that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the RCMP to close its academy several times, which has delayed the training of new recruits. Officers have a heavier burden on their shoulders since many police officers have retired earlier.
“We ask more and more of our members over the last decade,” he says.
The situation led the union to launch its own campaign to boost interest in a career with the RCMP, adds Mr. Sauvé.
An internal report from 2020 highlights the RCMP’s recruiting issues. He also mentioned that the federal police had difficulty increasing diversity within the troop. Only 4% of applicants identified as Aboriginal. A smaller percentage of women applied.
Natan Obed, president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, says it is difficult for an Inuit to become a police officer or work in the RCMP. He recalls that the history of policing in northern communities is “long and complicated”.
He hopes that the 150e anniversary will allow the RCMP to address the discrepancies that still exist. And instead of just focusing on the difficult relationship between the RCMP and Inuit, federal policing could take the opportunity to commit to “building a new relationship” and eliminating systemic racism.
Native Women’s Association of Canada chief executive Lynne Groulx says federal policing should use her anniversary to celebrate reconciliation and “what it means to the RCMP.”
“How will she regain the trust of the indigenous people? This distrust took time to develop. Restoring trust will take time. »