Pay Council

Background of the Pay Council

Under the Public Service Labour Relations Act , members of the RCMP cannot engage in collective bargaining. As a result, the RCMP Pay Council was established in May 1996 to provide a modern and efficient alternative to collective bargaining. The Council was designed to resolve issues of pay and benefits in a consultative and consensual manner.

It should be noted that the Regulations under the RCMP Act provide for an SRR Program , whose purpose is to represent members with respect to staff relations matter.

Mandate

To make recommendations concerning the working conditions of regular members from the rank of special constable up to and including the rank of superintendent, as well as non-Special Services civilian members of the RCMP. The working conditions within the Pay Council mandate include:

• pay and annual salary ranges
• various leave provisions
• shift differential
• Senior Constable Allowance
• housing and transportation subsidies
• pensions
• statutory holidays
• public service health care plan
• life insurance
• annual hours of work

Pay Council Members

• Independent chairperson - Michael McDermott
• 2 management representatives appointed by the Commissioner - Assistant Commissioner Pat McDonell and retired Assistant Commissioner Lowell Thomas
• SRR member elected by Caucus - Staff Sergeant Don Taylor
• Executive Compensation Specialist selected by the DSRRs - Dr. Gene Swimmer

Comparator Universe

Historically, the constable rank has been compared with the compensation paid to constables in several large police forces to help determine the base salary rate. These forces consist of:

• Edmonton Police Service
• Halifax Regional Police Service
• Montréal Urban Community Police Serv.
• Ontario Provincial Police
• Sûreté du Québec
• Toronto Police Service
• Vancouver Police Department
• Winnipeg Police Service

Compensation Determination Process

Section 22(1) of the RCMP Act provides that "Treasury Board shall establish the pay and allowances paid to members of the RCMP." In its Preliminary 1999 Annual Report, the Pay Council recommended that RCMP members be compensated at the average of the top three police departments in the comparator universe, on a total compensation basis. Treasury Board approved the following pay package:

• 2002 pay increase 3.5%
• 2003 pay increase 2.5%
• 2004 pay increase 2.5%
• 2005 pay increase 4.42%
• 2006 pay increase 2.63%
• 2007 pay increase 2.5%

Contacts

Rania Abi-Ghanem: 905-876-9517
Marc Laferrière: 613-993-3650