MP wants feds to declare RCMP Day

Jul 25, 2019 | 10:00 AM

The local Member of Parliament is calling on the federal government to act outside the normal process to formally recognize Feb. 1 as Royal Canadian Mountain Police Day.

Mel Arnold said that would allow the event to proceed in time for the force’s 100th anniversary next year.

The Conservative MP for North Okanagan Shuswap tabled a bill proposing recognition of the day in the House of Commons last month, but with Parliament on its summer break, the bill will not proceed during the current calender and faces more uncertainly with the federal election this fall.

He sent letters to the ministers of Public Safety and Canadian Heritage to use an Order in Council to declare the recognition.

“With the uncertainty of Parliament’s schedule leading up to the RCMP centennial, establishing recognition of RCMP Day by means of a bill is not feasible, but the Government of Canada does have the option of using a declaration,” Arnold said.

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“The RCMP’s centennial anniversary is a fitting time for all Canadians to join together in recognizing and appreciating 100 years of service and I sincerely hope the Government of Canada will issue a declaration to ensure that February 1, 2020 is formally recognized as Royal Canadian Mounted Police Day.”

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police was established on February 1, 1920 when the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, founded in 1873, and the Dominion Police, founded in 1868, were merged.

The RCMP today is made up of almost 30,000 individuals: 18,000 frontline members and 12,000 support personnel.

by Pete McIntyre

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