Details on transfer payment programs

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 for the administration of the Act in their jurisdiction. The agreements compensate provinces for costs incurred to administer:
  • 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

Aboriginal and/or Other Communities and Organizations

• The purpose and objectives of the Aboriginal and/or Other Communities and Organizations funding program are for the Canadian Firearms Program to collaborate with Indigenous communities and groups, and/or other not-for-profit, non-Indigenous groups, including national, provincial and territorial agencies and organizations, in order to provide support, information, and education that facilitate the application of and compliance with the Firearms Act.

Firearms Funding Program for Opt-in Provinces and Territories

• During the reporting period, the seven (7) opt-in provincial Chief Firearms Officers issued 127,196 new and 263,582 renewed licences, including 389,656 to individuals and 1,074 to businesses and museums. They also refused 1,011 applicants and revoked 2,662 licences.

Aboriginal and/or Other Communities and Organizations

• During the reporting period, no agreements were completed. The Canadian Firearms Program initiated a Northern Services Review to assess the delivery of regulatory services in the North. The results will inform the ongoing development of strategies to promote firearms safety and improve program services and communications in the three territories, including promoting the contribution funding program for Aboriginal and/or Other Communities and Organizations.

Firearms Funding Program for Opt-in Provinces

• Provincial and territorial Chief Firearms Officers met regularly with the Canadian Firearms Program to discuss operational matters and attended an annual meeting to discuss emerging issues relating to the administration of the Firearms Act. Managers from Chief Firearms Officers’ offices across Canada took part in monthly teleconferences to promote dialogue and consistency in business operations.

Aboriginal and/or Other Communities and Organizations

• The Northern Services Review initiated by the Canadian Firearms Program involves significant in-person consultations with Indigenous and northern communities to inform the ongoing development of strategies to promote firearms safety. Additional territorial consultations will inform the identification of gaps and opportunities to improve communications, services and delivery models.

Financial information

Start date

• July 8, 1959

End date

• Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

• Grant

Type of appropriation

• Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

• Not applicable

Link to departmental result(s)

• 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.

Link to the department’s program inventory

• Core responsibilities: Federal Policing, Specialized Policing Services, and Contract and Indigenous Policing
• Program inventory:
  • 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
  • Provincial/Territorial Policing

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

This program significantly contributes to the higher-level expected results of the organization’s mandate in that it protects members of the organization in a real way in the event they become disabled as a result of carrying out the duties and activities associated with endeavouring to ensure a safe and secure Canada. It provides both financial and health care assistance to members of the RCMP and their families in the event of injuries/illness and/or death occurring to members as a consequence of their duties.

Results achieved

Eligible members are appropriately compensated for the non-economic effects of a service-related illness/injury.

Findings of audits completed in 2023-24

• Not applicable

Findings of evaluations completed in 2023-24

• There are currently no plans to evaluate this 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 audit and/or evaluation will be undertaken if warranted by the results of a risk assessment.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2023-24

• Administration and payment of this grant are managed by Veterans Affairs Canada.

Financial information

Explanation of variances

Planned spending is based on the Main Estimates allocation, which did not include a significant amount of funding received in year that is based on updated forecasts from the Annual Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions actuarial report, as well as Veterans Affairs Canada. Given the delay in receiving the funding, it was not included in the Main Estimates, which has resulted in an annual variance in the Departmental Results Report. In 2023-24, the variance of 262% between actual and planned spending for the RCMP members and their survivors – who receive benefits under the Grant to Compensate Members of the RCMP for Injuries Received in the Performance of their Duties – is the result of planned spending not reflecting the actual amount and rate of assessed claims. The variance of 2% between total authorities available for use and actual spending is a result of forecasted amounts exceeding final payments for the period.

Start date

• 1959

End date

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

Type of transfer payment

• Statutory grant

Type of appropriation

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

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

• Not applicable

Link to departmental result(s)

• 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

Link to the department’s program inventory

• Core responsibilities: Federal Policing, Specialized Policing Services, and Contract and Indigenous Policing
• Program inventory:
  • 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
  • Provincial/Territorial Policing

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Pension Continuation Act is a defined benefit pension plan whose purpose is to provide a lifetime benefit for RCMP members and, at their option through a separate Fund, their survivors. It provides for the payment of pensions to Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Constables engaged prior to March 1, 1949, except those who elected to come under the RCMP Superannuation Act. The Pension Continuation Act is predecessor to this Act.

Results achieved

Eligible RCMP pensioners and survivors received their appropriate benefits.

Findings of audits completed in 2023-24

• Not applicable

Findings of evaluations completed in 2023-24

There are currently no plans to evaluate this grant 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 audit and/or evaluation will be undertaken if warranted by the results of a risk assessment.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2023-24

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

Financial information

Explanation of variances

The variance between actual spending and planned spending is due to the declining population eligible for this pension. In addition, due to the difficulty in predicting mortality rates, the planned spending has been historically higher. Planned spending in the Departmental Plan will continue to be reviewed and revised as required based on observed trends.

Start date

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

End date

Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

Grant

Type of appropriation

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

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.

Link to departmental result(s)

• 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.

Link to the department’s program inventory

• Core responsibilities: Federal Policing, Specialized Policing Services, and Contract and Indigenous Policing
• Program inventory:
  • International Operations
  • Canadian Police College
  • Contract and Indigenous Policing Operations Support
  • Provincial/Territorial Policing

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The program supports lateral 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 the national police 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.

Since 2004, the Family Violence Initiative Fund has funded 489 initiatives in communities across Canada with the objective of:

• preventing high risk groups from re-offending
• fostering prevention in Indigenous communities
• promoting public awareness of relationship and family violence through conferences, seminars, presentations or workshops
• assisting victims of crime
• supporting male survivors of physical, psychological, and sexualized trauma through the provision of individual therapy, group therapy and victim services support
• fostering RCMP law enforcement and prevention programs

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. Up to 5 scholarships in the amount of $1,000 are awarded annually to full-time college or university students.

Results achieved

The Canadian Police College achieved a rate of 98% in disbursement of total annual amount allocated over the period of fiscal year 2023-24, which is consistent with results from 2022-23. There were over 680 beneficiaries from 87 agencies and organizations, which is down from 700 beneficiaries in 2022-23. Variations in 2023-2024 are attributed to general rising travel and transportation costs, which makes it more expensive for participants to travel to the Canadian Police College. A continuing slight variance is anticipated to persist due to potential fluctuations in Canadian Police College attendance, also influenced by a raise in tuition cost and shift to offering options for online delivery of some Canadian Police College courses. This would indicate that there may be potential untapped opportunities to increase grant usage among Canadian Police College participants.

In fiscal year 2023-2024, the RCMP received 95 Family Violence Initiative Fund applications, totaling over $1.8 million in funding requests from 10 divisions. The Family Violence Initiative Fund review committee selected 21 projects to assist communities to respond to family violence in Canada. All of the projects were funded as grants for a total grant allocation of $319,778.00.

With regard to the Troop 17 Scholarship, National Youth Services received 19 applications for the 2023-2024 fiscal year and subsequently awarded five Troop 17 scholarships, each in the amount of $1,000. Notably, this represents an increase from the 7 applications received in the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Findings of audits completed in 2023-24

There are currently no plans to audit 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 audit will be undertaken if warranted by the results of a risk assessment.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2023-24

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.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2023-24

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

National Youth Services employed a multifaceted approach to promote the Troop 17 scholarship, utilizing social media platforms, the RCMP National Youth Advisory Committee and diverse newsletters to reach a wide audience.

Financial information

Explanation of variances

There are several elements of the Law Enforcement Grant, managed by different areas within the RCMP. The majority of expenditures were consumed by the Canadian Police College (97% of its authorities) and Contract and Indigenous Policing (99% of its authorities). The variance in comparison to the total authorities available for use is related to funding of $375K for the RCMP-Indigenous Co-Development, Collaboration and Accountability grant approved through the Addressing Systemic Racism initiative. None of this amount was used due to operational matters impacting organizational capacity and as such, RCMP-Indigenous Co-Development, Collaboration and Accountability was not in a position to propose engagement plans with Indigenous partners.

Start date

1980

End date

Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

Grant

Type of appropriation

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

Approval of the updated terms and conditions of the RCMP Survivor Income Plan was obtained in April 2022.

Link to departmental result(s)

• 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

Link to the department’s program inventory

• Core responsibilities: Federal Policing, Specialized Policing Services, and Contract and Indigenous Policing
• Program inventory:
  • Federal Policing Intelligence
  • Federal Policing Investigations
  • International Operations
  • Protective Operations
  • Canadian Firearms Investigative and Enforcement Services
  • Canadian Police College
  • Criminal Intelligence Service Canada
  • Forensic Science and Identification Services
  • Sensitive and Specialized Investigative Services
  • Specialized Technical Investigative Services
  • Contract and Indigenous Policing Operations Support
  • Indigenous Policing
  • Municipal Policing
  • Provincial/Territorial Policing

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Survivor Income Plan provides compensation to survivors of regular and civilian members who suffer a duty-related death and was designed to replicate an income level for survivors equal to that which the member would have received had they survived.

Results achieved

Eligible survivors of regular and civilian members who suffer a duty-related death received their appropriate pension benefits.

Findings of evaluations completed in 2023-24

There are currently no plans to evaluate this grant 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 audit and/or evaluation will be undertaken if warranted by the results of a risk assessment.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2023-24

Not applicable

Financial information

Explanation of variances

Planned spending is based on the Main Estimates allocation and expenditures are based on payments to survivors and dependents of members who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Given the nature of policing, deaths in the line of duty are difficult to predict thus resulting in an annual variance between the planned and actual spend for this grant.