Training at Depot
Date: 2021-05-28
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Fully releasable (ATIP)? Yes
Branch/Agency: RCMP
Issue:
- Review the cadet Training Program
- Enforce zero-tolerance policy for harassment and discrimination
- Teach anti-harassment and discrimination course
Proposed Response:
- Depot is a Regular Member’s first experience of the RCMP and is where our culture starts.
- A new Chief Learning Officer has been appointed to strengthen national standards, coordination and oversight for all RCMP learning, including Depot modernization.
- Cadets, like all RCMP employees, are expected to comply with the RCMP harassment policy.
- The Cadet Training Agreement will be immediately terminated if a Cadet is involved in an incident of harassment or discrimination, where counselling is deemed to be insufficient or if it is ignored.
- Aligned with the Independent Assessor’s recommendations, the RCMP has recently made changes to the Cadet Training Program.
- These changes include improved content related to preventing and responding to harassment, the Code of Conduct and RCMP core values; and an overhaul of the sexual harassment case study to include a more realistic situation, and address the correlation between power imbalances and harassment and sexual harassment.
- In 2019, the Field Coaching program was moved under Depot to ensure a continuity upon graduation from the Cadet Training Program (CTP).
- A Kirkpatrick Level 3 Evaluation of the Field Coaches’ Course and Field Coaching Program will be conducted in 2021/22 to assess how well these programs are preparing members and coaches for their roles.
- The evaluation will inform the modernization of both the Field Coaches’ Course and the Field Coaching Program
- The RCMP continues to examine ways to ensure effective processes and supports for cadets
Cadet Training Program
Background:
a. Review of Cadet Training Program
What recruits learn at Depot, and how they learn it, will impact who they are as a police officer; we need to get it right.
Under the Chief Learning Officer, the RCMP will work with experts to conduct a full “level three” evaluation of the Cadet Training Program, to ensure the curriculum reflects the needs in the field:
- This will include a GBA+ lens to ensure the content is inclusive, does not unintentionally reinforce stereotypes, and reflects modern reality
- Plans are underway to have representatives from the First Nations University of Canada review the Indigenous cultural awareness curriculum in the Cadet Training Program
- The RCMP is also undertaking an assessment of the para-military aspects of the Depot training environment
The RCMP is also working to ensure the physical environment at Depot is inclusive for all. Key facilities at Depot, including washrooms, locker rooms and dorms, are being reviewed by external experts through a GBA+ lens to ensure they are inclusive, including for transgender, non-binary and two-spirit people.
b. Enforce zero-tolerance policy for harassment and discrimination
Cadets are made aware of expectations for performance and behaviour upon their arrival at Depot.
The Cadet Training Agreement will be immediately terminated if a Cadet is involved in an incident of harassment or discrimination, where counselling is deemed to be insufficient or if it is ignored.
c. Teach anti-harassment and discrimination course
Improved content related to preventing and responding to harassment, the Code of Conduct and RCMP core values; and
Overhauled the sexual harassment case study to include a more realistic situation, and address the correlation between power imbalances and harassment and sexual harassment.
If asked about the harassment resolution process at Depot:
- Per recent changes to the RCMP harassment policy, harassment complaints at Depot are now addressed through the same process used by all RCMP employees
- Cadets will be able to access the process through the ICHR
- Cadets are offered mediation/conflict resolution in the first instance, but they may lodge a formal complaint if preferred, through the same process used by all RCMP employees
- Date modified: