The president of the National Police Federation, representing a large number of Mounties, expressed concerns about the potential negative impact of the Liberal government’s proposal to establish a new Financial Crimes Agency (FCA) on the already strained RCMP. Rob Farrer addressed a parliamentary committee reviewing Bill C-29, which aims to set up the FCA to address deficiencies in investigating financial crimes such as money laundering and online fraud historically handled by the RCMP. Farrer suggested that rather than creating a separate agency, the RCMP could effectively carry out the required work with adequate resources.
Farrer emphasized the importance of providing sustained staffing, advanced tools, and specialized support to enhance the RCMP’s capacity in handling financial crimes. He stressed that the success of any enforcement efforts should be gauged by improved investigative capabilities and outcomes, not just by establishing a new organization.
The union leader highlighted the under-resourcing of the RCMP, expressing worries that diverting resources to the new agency would further strain the national police force. While the FCA is designed to operate independently from the RCMP, the bill envisions the possibility of Mounties being assigned to the FCA, with the government contemplating assigning 150 RCMP personnel to combat financial crimes. Farrer cautioned that transferring experienced RCMP investigators without adequate replacements could disrupt ongoing investigations, increase workloads, and aggravate retention challenges.
Addressing long-standing recruitment and retention issues within the RCMP, Farrer underscored the time and expertise required to develop investigators capable of handling complex financial crimes. The proposed FCA is expected to include civilian investigators, financial intelligence personnel, asset recovery experts, and specialized prosecutors.
Farrer raised concerns about the oversight and accountability of RCMP officers assigned to the FCA, questioning the management of safety, performance, discipline, and disclosure. The union advocated for new funding dedicated to the FCA, separate from the RCMP’s budget, and emphasized the need for funded and qualified replacements for Mounties assigned to the agency, along with a smooth transition plan to safeguard ongoing investigations.
