Statement from Minister of Justice Tracy-Anne McPhee on RCMP’s 150th Anniversary

Minister of Justice Tracy-Anne McPhee has issued the following statement:

“Today marks 150 years since Parliament established the North-West Mounted Police, which would eventually become the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

“On this occasion, we celebrate the RCMP and pay tribute to 150 years of keeping us safe and secure, peacekeeping, supporting communities by land, air and water, and learning from past experiences and challenges. For 150 years, the RCMP has upheld our rights and laws with fairness and integrity, demonstrating immense bravery by placing their lives at risk to protect others.

“Over the years, the RCMP has evolved from a northern policing agency guarding the Chilkoot Pass and taking adventurous dog patrols through the Yukon wilderness, into a diverse, national organization working to keep Canadians safe. This historic anniversary gives us the opportunity to reflect on the history of the RCMP and the personal stories of officers who left their mark, while also acknowledging the advancements and achievements of the RCMP today.

“For more than 30 years, I have had the honour of working with many outstanding members of the RCMP. Some things have changed a lot over that time, and the RCMP has grown in many ways as the landscape of safety issues facing communities has evolved.

“The RCMP is committed to moving forward, becoming more modern, diverse and inclusive, and to rebuilding trust from the ground up in areas where it has been broken.

“It is no secret that there are some darker chapters in the 150 years and the RCMP does not shy away from this. They have committed to look at the past with humility, embracing those difficult conversations, and demonstrating that action has and will continue to be taken to learn through reconciliation and beyond.

“Bravery, honesty, compassion, integrity, respect, and clear communication — these are all core values of the RCMP M Division, and its members embody this daily in their work not only in law enforcement but in crime prevention, investigations, assistance with emergency situations, and community activities. RCMP M Division members have also embraced policing innovation within their policing operations and with partners.

“This includes several critical partnerships that benefit Yukoners, including the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program, the Crime Reduction Unit, the Mobile Crisis Response Team — also known as “Car 867” — the Historical Case Unit, the Sexualized Assault Response Team and the Integrated Restorative Justice Unit.

“Happy anniversary to the RCMP. On behalf of our government, thank you for your heroic dedication in keeping our communities safe and supported.”