/EINPresswire.com/ -- OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 03/09/16 -- Treasury Board Secretariat

The Government of Canada today introduced legislation to create a new labour relations regime for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) members and reservists.

The legislation would address the Supreme Court of Canada decision on the Mounted Police Association of Ontario (MPAO) v. Attorney General of Canada case, which found key parts of the current RCMP labour relations regime to be unconstitutional.

This bill was drafted following extensive consultations with regular members of the RCMP and jurisdictions with RCMP Police Services Agreements.

The Government of Canada will continue to work with Parliament in an open and engaging manner throughout the legislative process.

Quotes

"Today, the Government of Canada is addressing an important decision of the Supreme Court of Canada by introducing a bill that, if passed, will provide RCMP members and reservists with a right to make choices about representation in labour relations matters. It will do so in a manner that reflects the operational environment of police officers."

- Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"The Government of Canada takes the responsibility to protect the safety and security of Canadians very seriously, and is committed to supporting the dedicated and proud members of Canada's national police service. This bill will promote the constitutional right of RCMP members and reservists to engage in meaningful collective bargaining."

- Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board

Quick Facts

--  The legislation includes the following elements:
    --  the freedom for RCMP members and reservists to choose whether to be
        represented by a bargaining agent;
    --  independent, binding arbitration as the dispute resolution process
        for bargaining impasses, with no right to strike;
    --  a single, national-in-scope bargaining unit for RCMP members
        appointed to a rank and reservists;
    --  the requirement that the RCMP bargaining agent have as its primary
        mandate the representation of RCMP members;
    --  the exclusion of officers from representation; and
    --  the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board as the
        administrative tribunal for matters related to collective bargaining
        for the RCMP bargaining unit, as well as for grievances related to a
        collective agreement.

--  In January, the Supreme Court of Canada granted the Government of Canada
    an extension until May 17, 2016, to address the Mounted Police
    Association of Ontario (MPAO) v. Attorney General of Canada decision.
--  RCMP members are the only police officers in Canada not having the right
    to engage in collective bargaining.

Associated Links

- Mounted Police Association of Ontario v. Canada (Attorney General)

- A New Labour Relations Regime for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police

- Government of Canada to introduce RCMP Labour Relations Bill

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Contacts:
Jean-Luc Ferland
Press Secretary
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
613-369-3163

Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
613-369-9400
media@tbs-sct.gc.ca

TTY (telecommunications device for
the hearing impaired)
613-369 9371

Scott Bardsley
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and
Emergency Preparedness
613-998-5681

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657

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