Surrey Mounties and other RCMP officers are now eligible under their Regular Member health benefits to receive a maximum lifetime allowance of $75,000 for 鈥済ender affirming care鈥� that is retroactive to Oct. 12, 2023.

Robin Percival, media relations officer for the RCMP鈥檚 National Communications Services, said this matches the benefits that were extended to public service employees through the Public Service Health Care Plan on July 1, 2023.

鈥淕ender Affirming Care benefit provisions have been added to Regular Member health benefits, as part of our ongoing commitment to creating a more modern, inclusive and representative workforce,鈥� Percival told the Now-Leader. 鈥淭he benefit will be applicable for certain gender affirming procedures not covered by provincial/territorial health plans to help individuals with their gender affirmation journey.鈥�

Percival said these 鈥漜rucial鈥� benefits are representative of an effort to 鈥渃ontinue to work towards an RCMP that is inclusive and free of discrimination and harassment for all.鈥�