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Royal Canadian Mounted Police
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Annual Report 2009-2010
Executive Director
Veterans Independence Program (VIP)
The Veterans Independence Program (VIP) is at the government level the date of the report. The RCMP and all levels of government support VIP for RCMP members. All paper work is complete for this initiative as of the second week of March 2010. The only decision to be made is funding for the VIP.
Optional Survivor Benefit (OSB) - Marriage after age 60
The Minister has been provided advice on the Marriage after 60 item from the RCMP Pension Advisory Committee )PAC). At first it was discussed about going in tandem with the Canadian Forces, however, indications are that the Department of National Defence (DND) officials are not actively pursuing a Memorandum to Cabinet to amend the Optional Survivor Benefit of their pension plan. It is felt that it would be to our advantage if we went in a joint submission from the RCMP/DND to the government on this item. Recent press from the government and in the media has revealed that there is no appetite for any amendments or improvements to government funded pension plan in view of the cut backs in government spending....taking into consideration the non-pension benefits available to many retired Canadians. In the short term I do not believe we will be successful in obtaining this proposed benefit.
Changes to RCMP Pensioners’ Annual Statement
The annual benefit statement we all receive in early January of each year I thought was lacking in sufficient detail in regard to the benefit paid to our surviving spouse. The term which has approved in the past for our widow (entitled to one half of the unreduced pension) is unclear. A specific dollar amount is what we require so that our spouse can look at the statement and know the pension entitlement on the passing away of the pensioner. I should explain that there were data gaps in information which was provided to our pension administrator Morneau Sobeco by the RCMP at the time of outsourcing in 2002 that limited the percentage of pensioners whom an accurate estimate could be provided without an extensive and costly review of all pensioners’ files. With this in mind the RCMP National Compensation Services (NCS) and our Pension Advisory Committee (PAC) has approved a change request to amend the Pensioners Statement for January 2010 to include a specific example of a calculation this did in fact occur in January, information to pensioners regarding their survivor benefit pension portion of the Annual Benefit Statement.
Veterans Affairs Canada and the RCMP and former RCMP Members
Recently our National Advocate Dale Lively arranged for a meeting with the VAC Minister Greg Thompson. I and Director Cal Small were invited to attend with Dale. The meeting was held in Mr. Thompson’s parliament hill office. We voiced our concerns regarding what we felt was not enough attention being paid by VAC to our RCMP members and former member’s claims for pensions/treatments under the Pension Act. I must add here that Dale gave an excellent presentation to the VAC Minister and his co-executive at this meeting. Deputy Commissioner Peter Martin the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for the RCMP also attended this meeting.
This latter meeting led to our National Advocate Dale Lively, Director Cal Small and I being invited to travel to VAC HQ in Charlottetown with Deputy Commissioner Peter Martin the RCMP’s Chief Human Resources Officer and his Executive Assistant Inspector Eric Simard. We all traveled on the RCMP plane and all of our expenses for this business trip were paid by the RCMP.
We met with senior VAC officials as well as with front line VAC advocates and discussed our Veterans concerns. I feel that in furthering relationships with all partners and client groups within the RCMP and the RCMP Veterans Association...and in addition to this we work to find new avenues that will best serve our VAC clients. After this meeting the CHRO’s Office have put in place six (6) priorities now identified and two (2) of those include VIP and the RCMP Veterans Association. I feel that this is an excellent start to achieve more effective communications with VAC and the Force for the disability pensions for our Veterans and families uppermost in mind.
Pension Administration Outsourcing Project (PAOP)
The outsourcing project regarding the migration of our RCMP pension administration from our current company Morneau Sobeco to Public Works Government services (PWGSC) has now been approved by Treasury Board. This will take some time to occur and a lot of work has to now be done to ensure an orderly transition.
RCMP Mental Health Committee (MHAC)
I have been invited to take part in the RCMP Mental Health Committee as well as the Canadian Forces Mental Health Committee. I have yet to take part in any of their meetings...however, will do so when called and report in a subsequent report.
RCMP Insurance Committee
Treasury Board took over as policyholder of the Personal Insurance Plans being provided by Great West Life. I was nominated and accepted as the RCMP Veterans' Representative on the Insurance Advisory Committee, taking Cal’s place from now on. I know we want to change the Optional Dependent Life Plan so $5,000 coverage is available after age 70 to cover end of life expenses of our spouses. It is understood that any enhancement in benefits will result in higher premium costs.
Public Service Dental Plan
On 19 October...I met at Treasury Board Office and adjudicated on dental appeals from retired public servants, CF members and our own RCMP retirees. Almost half of the appellants had their grievance supported by our dental board.
Cost of Living Pensions Indexation of our RCMP Pensions
Last year our indexation was 2.5% and this year effective 01 January 2010 is an increase of 0,5% and I have enclosed the announcement on this...I believe this is the smallest increase ever since this Indexation started to be paid on our pensions.
Laying of Wreath on Remembrance Day
Again this year I laid a wreath for our RCMP Veterans Association in the ceremony at the cenotaph in downtown Ottawa.
National Office of our RCMP Veterans Association
Ian Cooper our part time 2 days a week veteran and I continue to operate this office. It is busy as usual and assisting our members and members of the public is at the forefront of this operation. On March 15th 2010, with the authority of Deputy Commissioner Peter Martin our national office was given a Public Servant CR-04 full-time and her name is Jennifer Elliott. While I was recuperating from open heart surgery Ian stayed with Jennifer for a full month, and as of April 9th 2010 Ian left the national office. And now I am working with her and I am very optimistic Jennifer will turnout to be of great benefit to the administration of our National Veteran’s office.
Bill Gidley
Executive Director
22 April 2010