Ottawa – Today, members of the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence unanimously adopted amendments to Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Public Service Labour Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board Act and other Acts and to provide for certain other measures. The amended bill has now been tabled in the Senate. The bill’s third reading could take place as early as Wednesday, June 15.

“The amendments adopted by the committee reinforce the management powers conferred on the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police by the RCMP Act; remove the limitation on collective bargaining; expand the scope for grievances which may be brought forward by members; and promote the right to a secret ballot during the unionization process,” said Senator Daniel Lang, Chair of the committee. “Senators should be commended for their non-partisan work and for arriving at a unanimous conclusion on these amendments which improve the bill.”

“The Supreme Court established a deadline of May 16, 2016 for the government to bring into force legislation to provide for a meaningful collective bargaining process for RCMP members,” said Senator Mobina Jaffer, Deputy Chair of the committee. “With these amendments, the committee has sought to ensure the bill is in alignment with meaningful collective bargaining rights and responsible labour rights for all members and employees of the RCMP.”

The amended bill will ensure more items will be negotiated during collective bargaining, such as pensions, law enforcement techniques, transfers, appraisals, probation, discharges or demotions, conduct including harassment, and equipment.

The chair and deputy chair acknowledge the work of Senators Claude Carignan, Jean-Guy Dagenais and Colin Kenny, who brought forward important amendments that were unanimously adopted by the committee, as well as the work of Senator Larry Campbell, who sponsored the bill.

“We look forward to this bill receiving third reading in the Senate over the next few days, and we urge the government to accept the amendments,” Senators Lang and Jaffer said.

Associated Links

• Committee homepage: click here
• Live webcast: http://senparlvu.parl.gc.ca/XRender/en
• Twitter: @SenateCA – follow the committee using the hashtag #SECD

For more information, contact

• Senator Daniel Lang, Chair: 613-947-6234
• Senator Mobina Jaffer, Deputy Chair: 613-992-0189