National COVID-19 Update – April 15, 2020

Commissioner's broadcast sent April 15, 2020

I hope that everyone was able to enjoy a safe and happy holiday. Although physical distancing means we can't get together in the same way as usual, we still have a lot to celebrate: family and friends, and communities working together, doing what they need to do to protect our most vulnerable.

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Considering the circumstances, I find it especially important to take a moment to thank the RCMP's 1,200 telecommunications operators and E-Comm employees. You work around the clock, calmly handling highly-charged, unpredictable, emotional situations to ensure members of the public get the police assistance they need, while keeping our officers informed and safe through evolving situations. For this and so much more, we thank you!

Find out more on our Public Safety Telecommunicators Week page where we also spotlight our four National OCC Award winners! A special thanks to the winners for going above and beyond for our officers, and for the people we serve.

Late last week, we took on a new role in enforcing the Federal Quarantine Act, ensuring that travelers entering Canada are respecting the requirement to self-isolate for a full 14 days after arriving. After the first few days, we see that almost all are complying, however, we will continue to check up on those who are suspected of breaking quarantine. The public and our partners understand and appreciate that discretion and flexibility, encouragement and education are key to getting the job done.

Today, the Government announced new ticketing options that will be available in most provinces under the Contraventions Act, giving us even more flexibility in achieving our goal of compliance with these important public health and safety measures.

This flexibility – and your professionalism – will continue to earn the public's support, cooperation and trust. Across Canada, I see heartwarming positivity for the RCMP, health services and other first responders. I hear kind words echoed across social media, I receive messages from citizens and officials, and I see local companies and organizations, big and small, lending a hand in their communities.

As personal protective equipment continues to come in through Government of Canada procurement or local sources, some detachments and Divisions may be receiving hand sanitizer in bulk. You may want to hang onto your hand sanitizer bottles in case it doesn't arrive individually bottled.

I received an e-mail over the weekend from a watch supervisor in southern Alberta, who told me a story about how he used to joke with some electrician friends that he would rather go to a weapons call or an incident involving violence than change out an electrical fixture at home. Why? Because you can at least see what can hurt you. Well Coronavirus has turned that situation around now. Like the electricity in the wall, the virus is invisible and you don't know where it's lurking. Like a good electrician, though, we are aware of the risk, and if we follow our procedures and protocols, and wear our personal protective equipment properly and consistently, the lights will be back on in no time.

I know that it isn't easy to go out there and face an invisible danger. And I know better than most how hard it is to ask people to do it. But Canadians need us more than ever, and we're all working together – from our corporate support programs, to the telecoms operators keeping tabs on you, to the men and women working alongside you in your unit – to ensure you can do it safely.

So let's keep going… if we stick together, we can do this!

Brenda Lucki
Commissioner

Date modified:

2020-04-15