November 6, 2024
Ottawa, ON – Below is a statement from NPF President and C.E.O. Brian Sauvé following an announcement of further delays on delivering modern and effective service pistols for RCMP Members across Canada.
“The NPF recently became aware that the RCMP’s procurement of modern, effective, service pistols has been delayed – once again – due to an alleged failure of industry applicants to meet the standards set out in the Request for Proposal issued by the RCMP.
To hear that no vendor could pass the RCMP’s preliminary evaluation phase calls into question the effectiveness of the entire procurement process. It defies logic that reputable pistol manufacturers were unable to produce a firearm that would suit the RCMP’s needs. For years, our Members have been asking for equipment that is safe, modern, and reliable, but they have been failed once again.
The current RCMP service pistol is more than 27 years old, and while it has been a safe and effective piece of equipment, it is time for renewal. The procurement process to replace these pistols has been ongoing for many years. To be a modern and nimble 21st century police service, our Members need and deserve modern 21st century equipment, and a new pistol is an integral component of this.
As we have seen from many recent and current equipment procurement processes, the Government of Canada system is failing the RCMP. The most recent example was Body Worn Cameras, which were announced in June 2020, but are only now being rolled out into communities across Canada. Four-plus years is not nimble.
We intend to address this failure, once again, as a priority with the RCMP Commissioner and the Government and intend to question where the process broke down and why the Membership of Canada’s largest law enforcement agency continue to keep Canadians safe with outdated equipment.
Police agencies buying pistols should not be rocket science, and these repeated failures can put lives at risk if our Members are unable to defend themselves or the public they serve appropriately while protecting our communities. Our Members and the public deserve better.”
About the National Police Federation
The National Police Federation (NPF) represents ~20,000 RCMP Members serving across Canada and internationally. We are the largest police union in Canada. The NPF is focused on improving public safety for all Canadians, including our Members by advocating for much-needed investment in the public safety continuum. This includes investments in police resourcing and modern equipment, as well as social programs including health, addiction, and housing supports to enhance safety and livability in the many communities we serve, large and small, across Canada.
Media contact:
Sarah Kavanagh
Communications and Media Relations Advisor
[email protected]
