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RCMP flights fragmented, efficiency needed: report
January 19, 2015 By The Canadian Press
Jan. 19, 2015, Ottawa - The RCMP lacks a “national picture” of its aircraft use and needs, creating potentially costly inefficiencies, according to an internal evaluation.
The national police force’s flight operations program operates as 19
individual air sections, each with its own way of doing business, the
evaluation concluded.
The reviewers found the RCMP continues to need its own aircraft fleet, which cost $32.8 million to run in 2012-13.
However, the evaluation determined the Mounties would benefit from
developing a national, co-ordinated approach to delivering air services.
The evaluation report, which makes six recommendations, has not been
publicly released. The Canadian Press obtained an RCMP briefing note
outlining the key findings under the Access to Information Act.
The evaluation is being finalized and the report, recommendations and
management response will be posted to the RCMP website as early as next
month, said Sgt. Greg Cox, an RCMP spokesman.
Former public sector integrity commissioner Mario Dion recently found
RCMP pilots in Ottawa had altered flight manifests in order to fly
overloaded aircraft. The Mounties acknowledged that some planes may have
been flown overweight, but said this was likely due to calculation
errors.
The police force relies on planes and helicopters for northern and
regional patrols, transporting employees, prisoners and supplies, and
carrying out searches. The RCMP initiative began in 1937 with four
twin-engine bi-planes.
The internal evaluation examined the fight program’s ability to provide value for money.
Efficiencies could be gained through better personnel management,
including scheduling practices, the evaluation found. It also suggested a
need for more information.
“The current flight scheduling, booking and tracking practices are
preventing the RCMP from obtaining a national picture of aircraft use
and requirements across the country,” the September 2014 briefing note
says.
“Accounting, tracking and reporting on national and financial
information needs to be strengthened. This would contribute to a better
understanding of the full costs of the program.”
