National COVID-19 Update – April 16, 2020

Commissioner's broadcast sent April 16, 2020

If you had asked me two years ago what I would be doing today, I could never have dreamed I'd be working from home with National Headquarters closed to all but the absolute minimum of staff.

Today, I mark two years as Commissioner of the RCMP, and I have never been more proud of our organization as I see the work each and every one of you is doing to meet the challenge of COVID-19. Many of you are out on the front lines, facing an invisible threat as you keep our streets safe. Many others are working from their homes, using technology and creativity to keep the wheels turning to support our front line.

In a very short time, we dramatically altered our way of operating and did it smoothly and effectively, protecting Canadians to our full capability at all times.

To me, that's the mark of a flexible, focused, innovative and modern organization.

I know how proud you are to work at the RCMP, and I know that even when things seem toughest, your communities value and support you. When I started two years ago, I was given a mandate to make changes and the most important among them was a commitment to build a healthy and inclusive organizational culture for all of us. Together, we've made real progress on many initiatives at the unit, detachment, divisional and national levels, and with your input and engagement, you've each played a key role in paving our way forward. When I see the commitment and resourcefulness you are all bringing to the COVID-19 fight, I know we have the resolve and flexibility to make our modernization a reality.

I also know that many of you are wondering, when will things "get back to normal." The simple answer is that we don't know right now. How long this takes depends on how well everyone sticks to the plan and follows the direction of our health authorities. We see that the measures we are taking to fight the spread of the virus are working, but it is too soon to let up. Today, the Prime Minister reminded us that we may still have several weeks of this ahead of us and that the return could be gradual. Even then, things may never be quite the same.

We have a team in Strategic Policy and Planning who in the coming days will be reaching out to our Commanding Officers to work out possible scenarios for moving forward post-COVID, and approaches for bringing us all back together. Resumption plans will address such issues as physical return to the workplace, training, transfers and relocation and annual leave, to name a few. I'll share more with you as this develops, but for now, we need to stay the course. Our resolve to overcome this virus requires the same commitment we've all made – and continue to make – in modernizing our organization.

As this pandemic continues, all Canadians are looking for that light at the end of the tunnel. And when they get there, they will find out the way was lit by all front line workers — health care, truck drivers, grocery clerks, and of course law enforcement — who never let up, keeping Canada safe throughout.

One thing these last 2 years have taught me, time flies when you're having fun! So be sure schedule in a daily laugh or two and keep up the great work.

Brenda Lucki
Commissioner

Date modified:

2020-04-17