Derek Lee, M.P.

Chair, Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates

House of Commons

Ottawa, ON

K1A 0A6

May 4, 2009

The only official representatives of RCMP members are the Staff Relations Representatives (SRRs) who are legislated under Section 96 of the RCMP Act. Recently, Section 96 was deemed unconstitutional by the Justice McDonnell of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario. There is an 18-month stay on that decision, and until the end of that period or the end of any other processes that might take place, the SRRs remain the exclusive voice for RCMP members.  

The SRRs are fully behind Bill C-18, what we call the “Pension Portability” issue. We fully support the representations that will be made by members of the RCMP and/or the Department of Justice on behalf of the RCMP, who you will hear on May 5. The Staff Relations Representatives have been at the table fighting for this issue for many years now and are a strong part of the reason why this bill is currently being discussed .

Neither the SRRs or the RCMP officially recognize S/Sgt. Gaetan Delisle or the association he represents as being an official representative of the approximately 25,000 RCMP members. As previously stated, the SRRs are duly elected by the members of the RCMP to represent them in all labour relation issues.  Further, the positions that Mr. Delisle may put forward to your committee are not the positions of the Staff Relations Representative Program.

Sincerely,

Brian Roach                                                    Bob Meredith

National Executive                                         National Executive

Staff Relations Representative Program         Staff Relations Representative Program

Royal Canadian Mounted Police                    Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Brian.A.Roach@rcmp-grc.gc.ca                     Bob.W.Meredith@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

T: (204) 984-3928                                           T: (780) 412-5880

C: (204) 801-2669                                           C: (780) 915-6352

F: (204) 984-5819                                           F: (780) 412-5843

cc: Michel Marcotte, Clerk

Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates