Departmental Plan 2022-23

The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Public Safety

Table of contents

From the Chairperson

Charles Randall Smith

I am pleased to present the RCMP External Review Committee’s 2022-23 Departmental Plan.

Through its independent and impartial reviews of appeal cases dealing with broad employment matters affecting RCMP members, including decisions in harassment complaints, conduct matters, demotion or the discharge of RCMP members due to any number of factors, the ERC helps to provide an assurance of fair and transparent recourse processes within the RCMP, ultimately contributing to the ability of the Force to serve Canadians.

The past two years have presented government organizations with many unexpected challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ERC employees showed both resilience and adaptability to ensure the ERC is able to deliver on its mandate. ERC will continue to put the wellbeing and mental health of its employees at the forefront now more than ever as the new reality has become the normality.

In 2021-22, the ERC focused on the orientation and training of the new staff complement hired as part of the permanent program integrity resources approved in the Fall of 2020. This year, we will prepare to meet our new service standards and to action our backlog strategies. ERC’s future staffing needs and succession planning and modernization of our processes and tools in order to attract, retain, support and empower a high-performing, healthy, safe and inclusive workforce will continue to be a priority.

I am looking forward to continue the implementation of an optimized process for the review of the backlog of case files and meeting the established service standards for cases referred to the ERC.

Charles Randall Smith
Chairperson

Plans at a glance

The ERC continues to manage two streams of case referrals from the RCMP: one under the current legislation and the other under the legacy legislation for cases commenced within the RCMP prior to November 28, 2014.

In 2021-22, the ERC’s orientation and training of the new staff hired as part of the permanent program integrity resources approved in the Fall of 2020 was vital in order to achieve and maintain the enhanced program capacity needed to continue to address the backlog of files awaiting review.

As of April 1, 2022, all new cases referred to the ERC are no longer added to the backlog and are subject to the new service standards introduced in 2021 (as required by the RCMP Act, s. 28.1). Continuous program improvement remains a priority for the ERC and will be realized through active monitoring and management of the ERC’s caseload and case review practices.

The succession planning for ERC key positions that will become vacant in the future is critical to continuity and sustained production.

For more information on RCMP External Review Committee’s plans, see the “Core responsibilities: planned results and resources” section of this plan.

Core responsibilities: planned results and resources

This section contains information on the department’s planned results and resources for each of its core responsibilities.

Independent review of RCMP employment matters

Description

Independent and impartial case reviews, findings and recommendations for final decisions in appeals of internal RCMP decisions in harassment complaints, conduct cases, discharges or demotions, and stoppages of pay and allowances.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police External Review Committee (ERC) is an independent administrative tribunal that contributes to fair and equitable labour relations and helps to reinforce accountability at all levels within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Other than the courts, the ERC is the only independent review mechanism available to RCMP members and management for labour relations matters. The ERC conducts impartial reviews of appeals of certain conduct measures imposed on RCMP members and of written decisions regarding harassment complaints, revocations of appointments, discharges, demotions and ordered stoppages of pay and allowances. Case files dealing with these matters are referred to the ERC for review by the RCMP pursuant to sections 33 and 45.15 of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and section 17 of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Regulations. In conducting its reviews of referred case files, the ERC considers the entire file record that is provided by the RCMP which can include statements from members (complainants, respondents and others), video or audio records and testimony from witnesses, historical human resources file materials and other documentation. Once a review has been completed, the ERC provides findings and recommendations to the Commissioner of the RCMP (as the final decision maker) and to the parties. The ERC’s findings and recommendations are directed at ensuring that the general principles of administrative law and labour law are respected and that the requirements of the RCMP Act and other relevant legislation, such as the Canadian Human Rights Act , are adhered to in decision making. In some cases, the ERC makes recommendations for broader change or for actions that might be taken to address issues raised in a file (e.g., changes in RCMP policies or management practices, or additional or new training for RCMP members or managers). Access to summaries of ERC findings and recommendations and to ERC reports and discussion papers is provided to RCMP members and the public through the ERC’s website and publications, and through presentations or other outreach to RCMP members.

Planning highlights

The ERC currently has a caseload of over 300 files under or awaiting review, which resulted in lengthy wait times for the completion of reviews following the ERC’s receipt of a referred case. In 2021-22, the ERC hired additional resources further to the permanent program integrity funding in the Fall of 2020, and invested in developing its new staff capacity and knowledge and ensuring strategic and efficient use of its resources to increase its case review capacity.

To ensure employees are in place who have the right skills to meet ERC needs, the ERC continues to develop its human resources planning function to better identify current and future staffing needs and to facilitate succession planning.

As of April 1, 2022, new appeal cases referred to the ERC are no longer added to the backlog and are subject to the ERC’s service standards introduced in 2021-22 which will support program management, transparency and accountability.

The reduction of the backlog of cases is paramount to ensure that the ERC can provide Findings and Recommendations in a timely manner and ensure fairness for the parties involved. To ensure the reduction of the case backlog, the ERC has developed strategies to address the backlog cases.

Outreach activities will support RCMP member awareness of workplace and recourse issues (such as disseminating case review summaries to RCMP members in the ERC Communiqué publication, and through virtual presentations to RCMP officials and National Police Federation with recourse responsibilities, managers or employee representatives). Regular dialogue with the RCMP on general program management, workload and administrative matters will continue in support of program delivery, planning and risk management.

Planned results for Independent review of RCMP employment matters

The following table shows, for Independent review of RCMP employment matters, the planned results, the result indicators, the targets and the target dates for 2022–23, and the actual results for the three most recent fiscal years for which actual results are available.

Planned results for Independent review of RCMP employment matters
Departmental result Departmental result indicator Target Date to achieve target 2018–19 actual result 2019–20 actual result 2020–21 actual result
ERC’s findings and recommendations support fair and transparent RCMP recourse processes and decision-making. The degree to which RCMP final decisions concord with ERC recommendations, expressed as the % of the RCMP final decisions that fully agree, partly agree or do not agree with the recommendations. Up to 100%; no specific target. Ongoing

Not applicable

(ERC has transitioned from PAA to DRF in 2019-20)

Agreed in 82%, agreed in part in 4% and disagreed in 14% Agreed in 76%, agreed in part in 0% and disagreed in 24%
Findings and recommendations are issued in a timely manner. % of findings and recommendations that are issued within the service standard. 100% April 2023

Not applicable

(ERC has transitioned from PAA to DRF in 2019-20)

Not applicable

Not applicable

(Reporting period starting in 2022-23)

RCMP members and the public have access to current information on the issues addressed by the ERC in its reviews. Frequency of website postings of the latest summaries of ERC findings and recommendations and of RCMP final decisions. 100% posted within two months following the end of the quarter. Ongoing

Not applicable

(ERC has transitioned from PAA to DRF in 2019-20)

100%

66.5%

(website posting of findings and recommendations summaries in the two first quarters of the fiscal year were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ERC was 100% on target for the 3rd and 4th quarter.)

The financial, human resources and performance information for the RCMP External Review Committee’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Planned budgetary spending for Independent review of RCMP employment matters

The following table shows, for Independent review of RCMP employment matters, budgetary spending for 2022–23, as well as planned spending for that year and for each of the next two fiscal years.

Planned budgetary financial resources for Independent review of RCMP employment matters
2022–23 budgetary spending (as indicated in Main Estimates) 2022–23 planned spending 2023–24 planned spending 2024–25 planned spending
6,442,098 6,442,098 6,442,098 6,442,098

Financial, human resources and performance information for RCMP External Review Committee’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Planned human resources for Independent review of RCMP employment matters

The following table shows, in full-time equivalents, the human resources the department will need to fulfill this core responsibility for 2022–23 and for each of the next two fiscal years.

Planned human resources for Independent review of RCMP employment matters
2022–23 planned full-time equivalents 2023–24 planned full-time equivalents 2024–25 planned full-time equivalents
33 33 33

Financial, human resources and performance information for RCMP External Review Committee’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Internal services: planned results

Description

Internal services are the services that are provided within a department so that it can meet its corporate obligations and deliver its programs. There are 10 categories of internal services:

  • management and oversight services
  • communications services
  • legal services
  • human resources management services
  • financial management services
  • information management services
  • information technology services
  • real property management services
  • materiel management services
  • acquisition management services

Planning highlights

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat granted the ERC an exemption from reporting on Internal Services as a separate program beginning in 2009-10 (given the focused nature of the ERC program and associated resources). This Report, therefore, presents information based on a single ERC program and does not provide information on Internal Services separately.

Planned spending and human resources

This section provides an overview of the department’s planned spending and human resources for the next three fiscal years and compares planned spending for 2022–23 with actual spending for the current year and the previous year.

Planned spending

Departmental spending 2019–20 to 2024–25

The following graph presents planned spending (voted and statutory expenditures) over time.

Departmental  spending 2019–20 to 2024–25
Image Description
Departmental spending 2019–20 to 2024–25
Fiscal Year 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Statutory 250,590 294,694 632,288 640,904 640,904 640,904
Voted 2,882,311 2,890,822 5,804,210 5,801,194 5,801,194 5,801,194
Total 3,132,901 3,185,516 6,436,498 6,442,098 6,442,098 6,442,098

In the Fall of fiscal year 2020-21, the ERC has secured additional permanent ongoing funding to support program capacity and integrity. With increased resources to deliver on its mandate in a timely and effective manner, the ERC will contribute to the integrity of the RCMP’s recourse system.

Budgetary planning summary for core responsibilities and internal services (dollars)

The following table shows information on spending for each of the RCMP External Review Committee’s core responsibilities and for its internal services for 2022–23 and other relevant fiscal years.

Budgetary planning summary for core responsibilities and internal services (dollars)
Core responsibilities and internal services 2019–20 actual expenditures 2020–21 actual expenditures 2021–22 forecast spending 2022–23 budgetary spending (as indicated in Main Estimates) 2022–23 planned spending 2023–24 planned spending 2024–25 planned spending
Independent review of RCMP employment matters 3,132,901 3,185,516 6,436,498 6,442,098 6,442,098 6,442,098 6,442,098
Subtotal 3,132,901 3,185,516 6,436,498 6,442,098 6,442,098 6,442,098 6,442,098
Internal services - - - - - - -
Total 3,132,901 3,185,516 6,436,498 6,442,098 6,442,098 6,442,098 6,442,098

* The ERC is exempted from reporting separately on Internal Services expenditures.

The ERC’s work with the portfolio department and central agencies to address its permanent funding requirements has resulted with the ERC receiving additional permanent ongoing funding in the Fall of fiscal year 2020-21 to support the integrity of the appeal case review program.

Planned human resources

The following table shows information on human resources, in full-time equivalents (FTEs), for each of the RCMP External Review Committee’s core responsibilities and for its internal services for 2022–23 and the other relevant years.

Human resources planning summary for core responsibilities and internal services
Core responsibilities and internal services 2019–20 actual full-time equivalents 2020–21 actual full-time equivalents 2021–22 forecast full-time equivalents 2022–23 planned full-time equivalents 2023–24 planned full-time equivalents 2024–25 planned full-time equivalents
Independent review of RCMP employment matters 14.9 16.5 33 33 33 33
Subtotal 14.9 16.5 33 33 33 33
Internal services - - - - - -
Total 14.9 16.5 33 33 33 33

* The ERC is exempted from reporting separately on Internal Services expenditures.

The ERC’s planned complement of resources from 2022-23 and ongoing is 33 FTEs. The increase of FTEs since 2020-21 is attributed to increasing capacity and the creation of new positions as a result of additional permanent ongoing funding received in the Fall of 2020-21.

Estimates by vote

Information on the RCMP External Review Committee’s organizational appropriations is available in the 2022–23 Main Estimates.

Future-oriented condensed statement of operations

The future-oriented condensed statement of operations provides an overview of the RCMP External Review Committee’s operations for 2021–22 to 2022–23.

The forecast and planned amounts in this statement of operations were prepared on an accrual basis. The forecast and planned amounts presented in other sections of the Departmental Plan were prepared on an expenditure basis. Amounts may therefore differ.

A more detailed future-oriented statement of operations and associated notes, including a reconciliation of the net cost of operations with the requested authorities, are available on RCMP External Review Committee’s website.

Future-oriented condensed statement of operations for the year ending March 31, 2023 (dollars)
Financial information 2021–22 forecast results 2022–23 planned results Difference (2022–23 planned results minus 2021–22 forecast results)
Total expenses 6,765,069 6,701,891 (63,178)
Total revenues - - -
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 6,765,069 6,701,891 (63,178)

The difference between forecast results for 2021-22 and planned results for 2022-23 relates to the amounts of permanent ongoing program funding approved in the Fall of 2020. The total expenditures planned for 2022-23 are $6,701,891 compared to $6,765,069 for 2021-22, representing a decrease of $63,178.

Corporate information

Organizational profile

Raison d’être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do

Information on the RCMP External Review Committee’s raison d’être, mandate and role is available on the RCMP External Review Committee’s website.

Information on the Public Safety Minister’s mandate letter commitments is available in the Minister’s mandate letter.

Operating context

Information on the operating context is available on the RCMP External Review Committee’s website.

Reporting framework

The RCMP External Review Committee’s approved departmental results framework and program inventory for 2022–23 are as follows.

Departmental Results Framework
Independent review of RCMP employment matters
Departmental Result Indicator
ERC’s findings and recommendations support fair and transparent RCMP recourse processes and decision-making. The degree to which RCMP final decisions concord with ERC recommendations, expressed as the % of the RCMP final decisions that fully agree, partly agree or do not agree with the recommendations.
Findings and recommendations are issued in a timely manner. % of findings and recommendations that are issued within the service standard.
RCMP members and the public have access to current information on the issues addressed by the ERC in its reviews. Frequency of website postings of the latest summaries of ERC findings and recommendations and of RCMP final decisions.

Program Inventory

Appeal case reviews

Supporting information on the program inventory

Supporting information on planned expenditures, human resources, and results related to the RCMP External Review Committee’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Supplementary information tables

The following supplementary information tables are available on the RCMP External Review Committee’s website:

Federal tax expenditures

RCMP External Review Committee’s Departmental Plan does not include information on tax expenditures.

Tax expenditures are the responsibility of the Minister of Finance. The Department of Finance Canada publishes cost estimates and projections for government-wide tax expenditures each year in the Report on Federal Tax Expenditures. This report provides detailed information on tax expenditures, including objectives, historical background and references to related federal spending programs, as well as evaluations, research papers and gender-based analysis plus.

Organizational contact information

Appendix: definitions

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