On this page

• Introduction
• Authority
• Mandate
• Composition
• Responsibilities
• Access to Information
• Assessment of Board Performance
• Accountability Reporting by the Board
• Operation Procedures
• Footnotes

1. Introduction

1.1. This document describes the governance framework, composition, responsibilities and duties, and key operating procedures of the Management Advisory Board (hereinafter referred to as the “MAB” or the “Board”) of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (hereinafter referred to as the “RCMP”). If in conflict, the RCMP Act Part V supersedes this Charter.

2. Authority

2.1. On June 21, 2019, the Government of Canada amended the RCMP Act Part V)^{Footnote 1} to establish the MAB as an independent advisory body to the Commissioner of the RCMP on its administration and management.

3. Mandate

3.1. The MAB is an independent advisory body mandated to provide the Commissioner of the RCMP - on its own initiative or at the Commissioner’s request - with advice, information, and reports on the administration and management of the RCMP, including with respect to:

I. the development and implementation of transformation and modernization plans;

II. the effective and efficient use of resources;

III. the actions to be taken to reduce corporate risks;

IV. the development and implementation of policies and management controls that support the operation of the RCMP;

V. the development and implementation of corporate and strategic plans; and,

VI. the development and implementation of operating and capital budgets.

3.2. In carrying out its mandate, the MAB shall consider the impact of its advice on persons of all identities and lived experiences, including but not limited to considering the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors.

3.3. The scope of the Board’s mandate does not extend to any matters in relation to law enforcement investigations or police services operations.

4. Composition

Membership

4.1. The MAB is to consist of not more than thirteen members appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of Public Safety (herein “the Minister”). The Governor in Council shall also designate a Chairperson (herein “Chair”) and Vice-Chairperson (herein “Vice-Chair”) from among the thirteen members of the Board.

Tenure

4.2. MAB members are to be appointed by the Governor in Council upon the recommendation of the Minister through a merit-based selection process led by the Privy Council Office and Public Safety Canada. The members are to hold office on a part-time basis during pleasure for a renewable term of not more than four years. Responsible authorities will ensure, as far as possible, the expiry in any one year of the terms of office of not more than one half of the members.

4.3. When recommending members for appointment, the Minister shall ensure that the Board is comprised of members who have the experience and the capacity required to carry out the MAB mandate, as well as considering the importance of having a Board that is representative of the diversity of Canadian society. The Minister may also choose to consult with any government with which the Minister has entered into an arrangement under the RCMP Act 20(1).

4.4. Ineligibility for appointment or to continue as a member of the MAB is set out in RCMP Act 45.19(8). A resigning or retiring member is expected to provide a minimum of four weeks written notice (electronic or physical) of their intent to resign to the Commissioner, Public Safety Canada, and the MAB Chair with a carbon-copy to the MAB Secretariat.

Remuneration and Federal Public Administration

4.5. The members of the MAB are deemed to be employed in the federal public administration for the purposes of the Government Employees Compensation Act^{Footnote 2} and any regulations made under section 9 of the Aeronautics Act^{Footnote 3}.

4.6. The members of the Board are to be paid the remuneration that is fixed by the Governor in Council and in accordance with Treasury Board directives, which includes remuneration for travel and living expenses incurred for the Board while absent from their ordinary place of residence.

5. Responsibilities

MAB Members

5.1. The Board is responsible for providing objective advice and recommendations in fulfilment of its mandate based on its expertise, experience, and best judgment. Its priorities and workplans are independently established by the Board on an annual basis with due consideration given to the mandates and goals of the Commissioner and Minister.

5.2. Board members are responsible for drawing upon their knowledge and expertise to provide advice and strategic direction in relation to the MAB mandate in support of making the RCMP a modern, effective, healthy, and inclusive organization.

5.3. Alternates are not permitted; each Board member is expected to be an active participant and meaningfully contribute to the Board’s work through analysis and consideration of complex factors, holistic problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and development of materials in the fulfilment of the Board’s mandate.

5.4. Each member is also responsible for obtaining and maintaining the necessary security clearance from the Government of Canada.

Chair and Vice-Chair

5.5. The Chair is responsible for providing strong leadership to facilitate effective collaboration and outcomes. The Chair ensures the Board’s fulfillment of its legislated mandate with transparency and the application of sound governance practices. The Chair fosters discussion, encourages and engages the views of members, builds consensus and seeks opportunities to advance the MAB’s work with a focus on strategically important issues. The Chair is responsible for the Board’s administrative decisions, which should be based on consensus whenever possible. Additionally, the Chair ensures that timely and relevant advice are provided to the Commissioner, in alignment with the Board’s mandate.

5.6. The Vice-Chair is responsible for supporting the Chair in the management and administration of the Board to facilitate its outcomes with transparency and accountability. The Vice-Chair may also provide independent advice to the Chair – on their own initiative or at the Chair’s request – on the governance of the MAB.

5.7. In the absence of the Chair (absent, incapacitated, or vacant), the Vice-Chair will act as Chair. If both the Chair and Vice-Chair are absent or incapacitated, or if those offices are vacant, the Minister may designate a member of the Board to act as Chair or Vice-Chair, but no member so designated is entitled to act for a period greater than 90 days without the Governor in Council’s approval.

Secretariat Support

5.8. The Board and all of its committees will be supported by the MAB Secretary in their capacity as the head of the MAB Secretariat (Director General MAB), or their delegate, who will act as an ex-officio Secretary to the MAB.

5.9. The Board will be assisted by the MAB Secretariat in the provision of strategic, administrative and analytical support. The Secretariat will coordinate the logistics and exchange of information and decisions between the Board and the RCMP to support the Board, including standing committees and time-limited committees. It will also provide strategic and analytical support to the Board’s efforts and activities in the fulfilment of MAB mandate and priorities. 

6. Access to Information

Responsibilities of the Commissioner

6.1. The Commissioner is responsible for providing the MAB with any information under the control, or in the possession, of the RCMP, subject to the RCMP Act subsection (2), that the Board deems necessary to carry out its mandate within 60 calendar days. The Commissioner is also responsible for informing the MAB Chair if there is an expected delay to the provision of timely access to information.

6.2. The MAB shall not have access to information under the control, or in the possession, of the RCMP if:

I. the provision of access to the Board might compromise or hinder the investigation or prosecution of any offence;

II. the information reveals personal information; or,

III. the information constitutes a confidence of the King’s Privy Council for Canada, as defined in subsection 39(2) of the Canada Evidence Act^{Footnote 4}.

6.3. Based on information under the control or the possession of the RCMP, the Commissioner shall prepare and provide to the Board any statistical or analytical reports that the Board considers necessary upon its request to enable it to carry out its mandate.

Responsibilities of the MAB

6.4. The provision of access to any information by the Commissioner to the Board that is subject to a privilege under the law of evidence, solicitor-client privilege, litigation privileges, or the professional secrecy of advocates and notaries does not constitute a waiver of any of these privileges or secrecy. As such, MAB members have an obligation to maintain the confidentiality of information provided to them and respect procedures to ensure the security of documents left in their care.

7. Assessment of Board Performance

7.1. Once a fiscal year, the achievements of the Board may be communicated through the development of an annual report.

7.2. The MAB shall also comply with the requirements of any independent audit, evaluations, or assessments that may be undertaken in relation to the work of the Board.  

8. Accountability Reporting by the Board

8.1. Board members are subject to all the requirements, terms, and conditions of part-time Governor in Council appointees (i.e., public office holder), including but not limited to the Ethical and Political Activity Guidelines for Public Office Holders, the Conflict of Interest Act, the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service and the Lobbying Act.

9. Operation Procedures

Board Operations

9.1. The Board operates under the direction of the Chair and Vice-Chair in fulfilment of their mandate and priorities. The MAB and all of its committees may provide their advice verbally or in a written report to the Commissioner, and may request a formal response from the RCMP on its recommendations within three months and subsequent updates on progress. The Board and all of its committees may also provide the Minister with a copy or a summary of any advice (verbal or written), information, or report that they provide to the Commissioner.

9.2. In accordance to the principles of transparency, the MAB will publicly share the topics discussed at its official meetings with RCMP officials, its formal advice – including advisory reports and letters –, as well as its key correspondences with the RCMP Commissioner, whenever possible, on its external website. During this process, the MAB will ensure it upholds the relevant security measures and follows available Ministerial directions.

Standing Committees

9.3. The MAB may further organize itself into long-term standing committees to focus on overarching management and administrative themes, as well as programs, initiatives, and strategies within these themes, to gain additional information and provide advice in a timely manner. As a committee of the MAB, a standing committee retains its responsibilities, including, but not limited to, advisory responsibilities, access to information, operating procedures, and secretariat support.

9.4. A standing committee will be led by a member of the Board selected by the MAB Chair, who will then be known as Committee Lead. The Committee Lead will provide the Board with periodic updates on the standing committee’s activities, discussions, and recommendations upon request of the MAB Chair.

9.5. A standing committee may be supported upon its discretion by a RCMP Senior Executive selected by the Commissioner, who will then be known as a Primary RCMP Executive Liaison. The membership of the standing committee may be rotated periodically to ensure a transfer of knowledge and expertise between incoming and outgoing members of the Board. 

9.6. A standing committee will meet a minimum of two times per fiscal year, typically online unless it immediately proceeds or follows an in-person quarterly meeting. One of its meetings will be dedicated to planning and management of its objectives and activities for the following fiscal year. Presenters may be invited through the MAB Secretary via MAB Secretariat at the request of the Committee Lead.

Time-Limited Committees

9.7. The MAB may further organize itself into time-limited committees, such as taskforces or tiger teams, that are established to research and advise on specific program, initiatives, or topics, which will be captured in a written report to the Commissioner with the expectation of a formal response from the RCMP within three months. Once it has concluded its time-limited work, the group is dissolved. As a committee of the MAB, such a group retains all privileges, including, but not limited to, advisory responsibilities, access to information, operating procedures, and secretariat support.

MAB Meetings

9.8. The Chair may determine the times and locations at which the Board may meet with due considerations to MAB members, the Commissioner, and Deputy Minister of Public Safety Canada. The Board is required to meet at least once every quarter of the fiscal year in-person (i.e. four times a fiscal year). Aside from the required quarterly meetings, the MAB may meet through any means of telecommunication that permits all persons who are participating to communicate adequately with each other. Members that are unable to attend should advise, whenever possible, the MAB Secretariat in advance, so that the Secretariat may advise the Chair if quorum (see section 9.10) is anticipated to be achieved.

9.9. The Deputy Minister of Public Safety Canada and the Commissioner, or a delegate of each of them, are to receive notice of all meetings of the MAB and may attend and take part in, but not vote at, MAB meetings. The Board may also invite members of the RCMP’s Senior Executive Committee on an ad-hoc basis, including, but not limited to, the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Strategic Policy and External Relations Officer.

9.10. The MAB Secretariat will provide administrative support to facilitate all meetings held by the MAB and its committees. This includes the facilitation of logistics for in-person and virtual meetings, as well as the development of agenda, supporting items, and meeting summaries. The MAB Secretariat is also responsible for sharing the location, time, agenda, and preceding meeting summary for each meeting with participants no later than seven working days before the meeting.

Quorum

9.11. Quorum for MAB meetings is achieved when a simple majority of the sitting members are present.

Charter Revision

9.12. The MAB Charter is subject to review on an annual basis, or as required through for example ministerial direction or legislative changes.