Strategic Direction

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The Strategic Direction sector was created to improve the RCMP’s strategic policy and planning capability, and strengthen its external liaison and partnership-building capacity. The sector is responsible for providing advice and support to senior management in setting the strategic direction of the organization, and does so by ensuring RCMP direction is aligned with broader government priorities, and reflects emerging environmental trends and the imperatives of partners and clients. The sector incorporates a policy development and research capacity to improve RCMP input to emerging policy, and a rigorous environmental scanning capability to assess the socio- economic, technological, legal and political environment, both at the domestic and international levels. In addition, a strong internal and external communications component supports strategic policy and planning, and helps the RCMP achieve its identified priorities.

Modern policy and policing issues are increasingly complex, horizontal and global, and law enforcement agencies must respond by reaching out to the communities they serve, and to the world at large. One of the main functions of the sector is therefore to promote greater external liaison and establish cooperative relationships with government departments, central agencies, other public policy bodies and organizations both national and international, whose research, policies and programs impact on law enforcement. These partnerships serve to improve environmental scanning within the RCMP, and enhance its strategic policy capability.

The sector is also concerned with partnerships involving public and private organizations, which are used to further organizational priorities, enhance existing programs, and promote the RCMP and Canada at home and abroad. Such partnerships include, for instance, sponsorship arrangements for ceremonial duties such as the musical ride and associated programs. The sector is responsible for managing these arrangements, and for an overall public affairs function which serves to raise awareness of RCMP programs and activities, manage access to information requests, and protect the RCMP public image.

Finally, the sector facilitates change and develops and supports a variety of internal management processes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the RCMP, and give form to its commitment to modern comptrollership. This includes the development of a rigorous performance management framework, as well as structural changes and other organizational responses to environmental issues and trends.