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Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP
Who we are and what we do.
- The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP is an independent agency, created by Parliament, to ensure that complaints made by the public about the conduct of RCMP members are examined fairly and impartially. The CPC accepts and attempts to resolve complaints lodged by the public about the conduct of RCMP members. More specifically, it conducts reviews when complainants are not satisfied with the RCMP's handling of their complaints; conducts investigations; holds hearings; reports findings; and makes recommendations for changes in national policing policy and practice.
How do I know if I have a complaint that falls within the jurisdiction of the CPC?
- If you have concerns about the conduct of members of the RCMP in the performance of their policing duties, you have the right to make a complaint.
- If you have questions about the conduct of an RCMP member, you may call the CPC and discuss your concerns with one of the CPC staff.
Who can make a complaint?
- Anyone who has a concern about the on-duty conduct of an RCMP member can make a complaint.
Do I have to be a Canadian citizen?
- You do not have to be a Canadian citizen. Non-citizens can make a complaint.
Do I have to be directly involved in the incident?
- You do not have to be directly involved.
- You can make a complaint on behalf of someone else.
How do I make a complaint?
OR
- Contact the CPC by e-mail, telephone or fax.
By e-mail:
complaints@cpc-cpp.gc.ca (for complaints)
org@cpc-cpp.gc.ca (for general inquiries)
By telephone:
From anywhere in Canada: 1 800 665-6878
From within the Ottawa area: (613) 952-1471
From within the Vancouver area: (604) 501-4080
By fax:
(613) 952-8045 (Ottawa)
(604) 501-4095 (Surrey)
What happens after I contact the CPC?
- A CPC staff person will describe the CPC's role and help you decide whether or not you want to lodge a formal complaint.
- If you and the RCMP member involved agree, the CPC can help provide you with an opportunity to alleviate your concerns directly with the RCMP, without going through the formal complaint process.
- Initial reliance on this speedy resolution alternative does not prevent the lodging of a formal complaint if concerns are not addressed to your satisfaction.
What happens if I decide to use the formal complaint process?
- A CPC staff person will assist you to ensure that all information relevant to your complaint is included on the complaint form.
- Once your complaint has been taken by one of the CPC staff persons, it will be written up and sent to the RCMP for investigation.
- The law under which the CPC operates requires that the RCMP conduct the first investigation into complaints, after which the CPC is involved again only when requested by a complainant who is dissatisfied with the RCMP's report of its investigation into the complaint.
- In rare circumstances, and at the discretion of the Chair of the CPC, the CPC may also become involved by conducting its own investigation in the public interest or conducting a public interest hearing.
What happens when the RCMP gets my complaint?
- The RCMP can try to resolve the complaint informally (an "informal disposition"), which requires your consent and the consent of the RCMP member involved.
- If the complaint is resolved informally and both parties are satisfied, the RCMP will prepare a summary of your complaint and how it was resolved, on an RCMP complaint form. You will be asked to sign the form.
- Make sure that you agree with the summary before you sign it.
- If you have any questions about the process, call the CPC and a staff person will assist you.
What happens if my complaint is not resolved through the RCMP's informal process?
- The RCMP will acknowledge receipt of your complaint in writing. The RCMP will conduct an investigation into your complaint and send you reports on a regular basis to inform you of the status of its investigation.
- When the investigation is complete, the RCMP will send you a letter (a "Letter of Disposition") that summarizes the results of its investigation.
- The letter will also tell you what action, if any, the RCMP has taken or plans to take to address your complaint.
- If you are satisfied, this will be the final step in dealing with your complaint.
- The RCMP must advise you of your right to ask the CPC to review your complaint if you are not satisfied with the way the RCMP handled your complaint.
Can the RCMP refuse to accept my complaint for investigation?
- The RCMP does have the right to refuse to investigate some complaints under the following circumstances:
- if the complaint is considered trivial, frivolous, or vexatious;
- if it can be better dealt with under another Act of Parliament; or
- if the RCMP deems that an investigation is not necessary under the circumstances.
- However, if the RCMP refuses to investigate your complaint, you are still entitled to ask the CPC to conduct a review.
How do I request a review of my complaint?
OR
- Contact the CPC by e-mail, telephone or fax.
By e-mail:
complaints@cpc-cpp.gc.ca (to request a review of your complaint)
org@cpc-cpp.gc.ca (for general inquiries)
By telephone:
From anywhere in Canada: 1 800 665-6878
From within the Ottawa area: (613) 952-1471
From within the Vancouver area: (604) 501-4080
By fax:
(613) 952-8045 (Ottawa)
(604) 501-4095 (Surrey)
What happens when I request a review?
- The CPC will write to the RCMP, advising it of your request for review, and ask it to provide all relevant information regarding your complaint.
Once the CPC has received all the relevant information from the RCMP, a Reviewer/Analyst will thoroughly review your complaint, the RCMP's response, and all relevant materials (e.g. witness statements, police reports and notes, transcripts of pertinent court proceedings, RCMP policies and procedures, etc.).
Are there any other avenues of action?
- The CPC may decide to investigate the complaint further.
- The CPC may ask the RCMP to conduct a further investigation of your complaint.
- The CPC may institute a public hearing.
What happens if the CPC carries out a further investigation?
- An investigator will gather all the information relevant to your complaint and will conduct interviews with you, the RCMP member(s) involved, and any witnesses.
- The investigator will make a report to the Chair of the CPC.
- The Chair will then send an interim report to the RCMP Commissioner.
What happens if the RCMP carries out a further investigation?
- A designated RCMP officer may interview you, the RCMP member(s) involved, and any witnesses.
- The RCMP will send the CPC information from the further investigation and the CPC will decide if an interim report is necessary.
What is a public hearing?
- The Chair of the CPC appoints a hearing panel to hear evidence.
- Public hearings are rare and are usually reserved for complaints where the CPC determines that important details will surface only through a hearing.
What happens when the review is complete?
- If the CPC determines, after a review of all information, that the RCMP responded satisfactorily to your complaint, you will receive a report stating why the CPC considers it was dealt with properly; that will be the final step in dealing with your complaint.
- If the CPC decides that the RCMP did not deal with the complaint in a satisfactory manner, the CPC will send an interim report to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada and the RCMP Commissioner.
What is an interim report?
- An interim report contains findings explaining why the CPC disagrees with the results of the RCMP's investigation into your complaint.
- It contains the CPC's recommendations to the RCMP regarding your complaint and suggests ways of avoiding repetition of similar conduct.
- The RCMP Commissioner must review and respond to the interim report.
What is the next step after the interim report?
- The RCMP Commissioner provides a response indicating what action the RCMP has taken, or will take, in response to the CPC's report.
- If the Commissioner rejects the CPC's findings or recommendations, the response, known as the Commissioner's Notice, must contain the reason(s) for the rejection.
- The Commissioner's Notice must be provided to the CPC and to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada.
What happens after the Commissioner's Notice?
- The CPC responds to the RCMP Commissioner through a final report, which is also sent to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada.
- The CPC will also send you and the RCMP member(s) involved a copy of the final report.
- The final report comments on actions taken or proposed by the RCMP Commissioner and is the end of the CPC's involvement in your complaint.
How long can it take to process my complaint?
- The legislation dealing with the CPC does not set out any timelines.
- The process can be lengthy depending on the complexity of the issues.
Is there anything I can do to speed up the processing of my complaint?
- Complaints that are submitted shortly after the incident are easier for the RCMP to investigate because the evidence is relatively fresh.
- It is advisable to request a review promptly after receiving results of the RCMP's investigation if you are not satisfied with the RCMP's conclusions.
What is the result of going through this process?
- The result will be a thorough and impartial examination of your complaint.
- The CPC may make recommendations to the RCMP Commissioner and the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada.
- Recommendations can range from remedial training for officers to changes in RCMP policing policy or practices. They do not include monetary compensation for damages.
- The goal of this process is to provide excellence in policing through accountability.
How can I contact the Commission?
On the Web:
www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca
By e-mail:
for complaints: complaints@cpc-cpp.gc.ca
for general enquiries: org@cpc-cpp.gc.ca
By telephone:
From anywhere in Canada: 1 800 665-6878
From within the Ottawa area: (613) 952-1471
From within the Vancouver area: (604) 501-4080
By fax:
Ottawa: (613) 952-8045
Surrey: (604) 501-4095
The Complaint Process
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