Details on transfer payment programs

December 18, 1997, for Firearms Funding Program for Opt-in Provinces and Territories

December 1, 1998, for Aboriginal and/or Other Communities and Organizations (Not-For-Profit) Contribution Funding Program

Ongoing

Contribution

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

• 2021-22 for Firearms Funding Program for Opt-in Provinces and Territories
• 2012-13 for Aboriginal and/or Other Communities and Organizations

Modern specialized police services and technologies support law enforcement and the public

Canadian Firearms Licensing and Registration

Firearms Funding Program for Opt-in Provinces and Territories

Section 95 of the Firearms Act allows the Minister of Public Safety, with the approval of the Governor in Council, to enter into agreements with provinces and territories that opt to designate a Chief Firearms Officer to administer certain aspects of the firearm regulatory regime, and to compensate them for eligible, actual administrative costs incurred in the delivery of firearms services, up to the maximum amounts set in the agreements, including for:

• firearms licences for individuals and businesses
• transfers of prohibited or restricted firearms
• authorizations to transport and authorizations to carry firearms
• authorizations for shooting clubs and shooting ranges
• designating instructors to deliver firearms safety training

Firearms Funding Program for Aboriginal and/or Other Communities and Organizations

The Aboriginal and/or Other Communities and Organizations funding program supports Canadian Firearms Program collaboration with Indigenous communities and groups and not-for-profit organizations to provide information, training and other services to promote firearms safety and compliance with the law.

Firearms Funding Program for Opt-in Provinces and Territories

Expected result

Improved eligibility screening of firearms clients, through licensing, by Chief Firearms Officers working with the Canadian Firearms Program, enhances public safety

Funding supports provincial and territorial opt-in governments to administer the Firearms Act and provide the services identified in the contribution agreements effectively and on time

Performance measures

Consistent with the Service Fees Act, a service standard of 35 calendar days to complete the initial review of a firearms licence application.

Monitoring

The contribution agreements require Chief Firearms Officers to report regularly to the Canadian Firearms Program on their activities and results relating to the administration of the Firearms Act, and the Canadian Firearms Program monitors service delivery overall and publicly reports on outcomes in the Commissioner of Firearms’ annual report.

Firearms Funding program for Aboriginal and/or Other Communities and Organizations

Expected results

Increased firearms safety and compliance with the law in Indigenous and other targeted communities.

Performance measures

The number of communities and individuals reached through the funding program.

Monitoring

The contribution agreements require recipients to report on their activities and their results, which may include, for example, the number of education campaigns or individuals that receive firearms safety training.

A 2020-21 evaluation of the firearms funding programs, which was national in scope, covered the five-year period beginning April 1, 2014, and ending March 31, 2019.

Continuation

2024-25

Firearms Funding Program for Opt-in Provinces and Territories

Provinces and territories that opt to designate a Chief Firearms Officer for the administration of the Firearms Act in their jurisdiction; currently, seven provinces have opted to designate a Chief Firearms Officer.

Firearms Funding program for Aboriginal and/or Other Communities and Organizations

Indigenous communities and groups and not-for-profit organizations

Firearms Funding Program for Opt-in Provinces and Territories

• Chief Firearms Officers meet regularly and the Canadian Firearms Program hosts an annual meeting to promote consistency and address emerging issues relating to the administration of the Firearms Act
• The Canadian Firearms Program also leads a monthly teleconference of managers from all jurisdictions to promote dialogue and deal with operational matters

Firearms Funding Program for Aboriginal and/or Other Communities and Organizations

The Canadian Firearms Program, in collaboration with Chief Firearms Officers, solicits funding proposals from prospective recipients through a variety of communications methods and networks.

1959

Ongoing, so long as there are remaining plan members and survivors

Statutory Grant

Through statutory authority named “Pensions under the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pension Continuation Act”

Not applicable

• Canada and Canadian interests are safe and secure against serious and complex criminal threats
• Modern specialized police services and technologies support law enforcement and the public
• The RCMP provides modern contract policing services

Federal Policing Intelligence, Federal Policing Investigations, Federal Policing National Governance, International Operations, Protective Operations, Canadian Firearms Investigative and Enforcement Services, Canadian Firearms Licensing and Registration, Canadian Police College, Criminal Intelligence Service Canada, Departmental Security, Forensic Science and Identification Services, National Cybercrime Coordination Unit, Operational IM/IT Services, Sensitive and Specialized Investigative Services, Specialized Technical Investigative Services, Contract and Indigenous Policing Operations Support, Force Generation, Indigenous Policing, Municipal Policing, and Provincial/Territorial Policing

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pension Continuation Act is a defined benefit pension plan whose purpose is to provide a lifetime benefit for RCMP members engaged prior to March 1, 1949 and their survivors. It provides for the payment of pensions to Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers, except those who became contributors under the RCMP Superannuation Act in 1959.

To provide a pension benefit for life to eligible RCMP pensioners and survivors.

2018-19

Continuation

Not applicable. Given the average annual expenditure of the program is less than $5M it is now exempt from the Financial Administration Act section 42.1 requirement that ongoing programs of grants and contributions be reviewed every five years. In such cases, departments are to consider evaluating these grants and contributions programs based on risks or need. There are no plans to evaluate the program at present.

Other – RCMP pensioners and their survivors

Not applicable. All plan participants are either existing pensioners or survivors. There are no new pensioners entering the plan. Current pensioners and survivors receive correspondence via the Government of Canada Pension Centre.

Treasury Board Decision of August 1984 approved this transfer payment program without condition on an ongoing basis.

Ongoing

Grant

Appropriated annually through Estimates

Approval of the amended terms and conditions of the RCMP transfer payment program, published in the Main Estimates under the title of “Grant to Promote Law Enforcement through Crime Prevention, Training and Public Relations”, was obtained April 26, 2012.

• Canada and Canadian interests are safe and secure against serious and complex criminal threats
• Canada’s most fundamental democratic and social institutions are secured through ensuring safety and security of protected persons, sites, government-led events and Canadian air carriers
• Modern specialized police services and technologies support law enforcement and the public
• The RCMP provides modern contract policing services
• Improved relationships with and outcomes for Indigenous people

International Operations, Canadian Police College, Contract and Indigenous Policing Operations Support, and Provincial/Territorial Policing

This transfer payment program supports initiatives related to law enforcement, public relations, and relationship building with communities, and provides grants to not-for-profit organizations for the purpose of crime prevention, crime awareness, and training.

Attendance at a training or developmental activity offered by the Canadian Police College by personnel of Canadian police services other than the RCMP increases the level of competencies within Canada’s policing community. Attendance by personnel of foreign police services at a training or developmental activity offered by the Canadian Police College facilitates international relationships to advance Canadian investigations abroad and combat transnational criminality. It also offers opportunities for police personnel from different jurisdictions to share skills and techniques, and to network in the advancement of policing techniques to a nationally consistent level. While parts of the grant were underutilized during the pandemic, full utilization of the grant is now expected.

The Troop 17 Scholarship recognizes students who have made significant efforts toward the prevention of bullying and harassment in their schools and/or communities. The creation of this scholarship was part of the Merlo-Davidson class action settlement agreement, and is one of the initiatives the RCMP has implemented to help promote diversity and inclusion, and prevent harassment. It is expected that recognizing students for their work in prevention of bullying and harassment within their schools and/or communities will encourage their ongoing work and engagement in this sphere. Up to five scholarships in the amount of $1,000 are awarded annually to full-time college or university students.

• Increased access to the Canadian Police College by non-RCMP police personnel
• Increased knowledge, skills, and techniques in advanced policing techniques within other jurisdictions
• Increased opportunity to network in a centralized police learning environment where a nationally consistent level of excellence is obtained
• Improved relations between the RCMP and other Canadian police services, and foreign police services are facilitated through the participation of foreign police officers in Canadian Police College training
• Improved diversity and inclusion, through incentivization of student involvement and engagement in initiatives related to the prevention of bullying and harassment within their schools and/or communities

Not applicable

Not applicable

There are currently no plans to evaluate this grant/contribution program in the near term. A risk-based approach is used when developing the multi-year departmental audit and evaluation plan. This approach takes into consideration the risks associated with activities undertaken in support of RCMP grant and contribution programs. An evaluation will be undertaken if warranted by the results of a risk assessment.

Not-for-profit organizations and charities and Indigenous recipients.

Participants are informed via the Canadian Police College web site and upon registration when applying for the Travel Grant.

Before every cycle of the Family Violence Initiative Fund, a message is sent to the Criminal Operation Officers to advise employees that the fund is open. Further, social media posts are made to inform the general public. This includes creating posts on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. Additionally, the internal Infoweb and the RCMP Family Violence Initiative Fund website are updated to display the opening and closing of application callouts.

The application period for the Troop 17 Scholarship is advertised to the general public through various means. The first step is to have RCMP National Communications update the Troop 17 webpage on the RCMP website. The application period is also advertised multiple times on various RCMP social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Applicants are also solicited through the RCMP National Youth Advisory Committee, the RCMP Fast Facts monthly newsletter, government interdepartmental working groups, and the Youth Secretariat Leaders of Today newsletter.

• Canada and Canadian interests are safe and secure against serious and complex criminal threats
• Modern specialized police services and technologies support law enforcement and the public
• The RCMP provides modern contract policing services