Allowing Royal Canadian Mounted Police Members to bargain collectively a
positive step

OTTAWA, June 17 /CNW Telbec/ - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Modernization Act, introduced in the House of Commons today, is an important step towards allowing Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) members the right to bargain collectively with their employer, a right that all other police officers in Canada are currently afforded, said Canadian Police Association (CPA) President Charles Momy today.

"It will be important for us to study this Bill, but on the surface, the right to bargain collectively is long overdue," said Mr. Momy. "We certainly applaud the Government for taking action on this issue."

The CPA has long advocated for a more democratic system of representation for members of the RCMP, one that will significantly increase the efficiency, accountability and transparency of Canada's national police service, all while reducing the fiscal burden on Canadian taxpayers.

"We hope that this legislation will be one of the first issues Parliament addresses when they return from their summer recess. RCMP members have already been waiting for 20 years for these changes," said Mr. Momy.

The Canadian Police Association (CPA) is the national voice for 43,000 police personnel across Canada. Membership includes police personnel serving in 160 police services across Canada, from Canada's smallest towns and villages as well as those working in our largest municipal and provincial police services, and members of the RCMP, railway police, and first nations' police personnel.

For further information: Michael Gendron, Government and Media Relations Officer, Office - 613-231-4168 xt. 229, Cellular - 613-299-6516, [email protected]