Statement made on 16 June 2009 by Senator Catherine Callbeck
Hon. Catherine S. Callbeck:
Honourable senators, I would like to say a few words about Bill C-18 and also about the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance's report. It is a good bill; it provides for our valued RCMP members to have the same pension advantages as members of the other federal superannuation plans.
This bill passed committee without amendments but there was one observation. I would like to read that observation.
During the committee's examination of this legislation, it was brought to our attention that the six-month Royal Canadian Mounted Police cadet training period, which is not considered pensionable service, is an issue that requires further policy changes for the Government of Canada and the RCMP. Since 1994, cadets have not been employees of the RCMP and, as such, cannot contribute to the pension plan. In contrast, some other major Canadian police forces regard cadets as employees and thus contribute to their respective pension plans during the training period. The passing of this legislation would create an inequity between the RCMP cadets and some transferring police officers, as the latter will have the option to buy back prior service, including the training period, to transfer pension credits as cadets to the RCMP.
The committee therefore calls on the government and RCMP to undertake to consult with all stakeholders to consider policies that designate new cadets as employees of the RCMP, and determine if full retroactivity to post-1994 graduates is possible.
The committee asks the results of this review be reported back to the committee within 12 months.
That is the end of the observation. Prior to 1994, cadets were paid a salary and were deemed as employees of the RCMP. Now cadets are not employees and are provided with an allowance.
Under this legislation, when some — other police officers — join the RCMP, they will be able to take that pensionable service with them. They will be treated differently than our own RCMP cadets by having the advantage of their additional training time in calculating their pension benefits.
While this issue is outside the purview of this piece of legislation as it is written, we believe this policy is unfair. It is why we have asked the government and the RCMP to consider changing its policy to treat these cadets as employees. In doing so, the cadets will automatically be covered by the RCMP's superannuation plan. No further legislation will be required.
I look forward to the RCMP's response to this observation and urge honourable senators to support this bill at third reading.