Commission for Public Complaints
Against the RCMP

2001-2002 Estimates
A Report on Plans and Priorities

Approved

Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, P.C., M.P.
Solicitor General of Canada

ISBN: 0-660-61511-8
Catalogue No: BT31-2/2002-III-84

Table of Contents

Section I:  Messages
  Chair's Message  
  Management Representation

Section II:  Commission Overview
  2.1 What's New
  2.2 Mandate, Role and Responsibilities
  2.3 Program Objective
  2.4 Planning Context
  2.5 Commission Planned Spending

Section III:  Plans, Results, Activities and Resources
  3.1 Business Line Details 
  3.2 Key Results Commitments, Planned Results, Related Activities and Resources

Section IV: Financial Information

Section V: Other Information
  5.1 For Further Information
  5.2 Legislation
  5.3 Publications

Section I: Messages

Chair's Message

I continue my efforts to significantly improve on delivery of our services to the Canadian public.

Between December 1999 and March 2000, the Commission completed an extensive review and strategic planning exercise. This initiative proved invaluable in identifying our work priorities for the next five years, as well as in our internal renewal.

My first priority remains the elimination of the review backlog. By all accounts, this objective will be achieved by our target deadline of March 31, 2001. In addition, we have introduced an average 120-day turnaround period for reviews and have established review standards to prevent future backlogs of cases.

My other commitments to improve public communications, information management systems and complaint investigation standards should significantly enhance our effectiveness in handling public complaints against the RCMP.

Effective January 1, 2001, the Commission adopted a new English name: the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP. This name change better reflects the mandate of the Commission, particularly for English-speaking Canadians who were uncertain about the independence of the Commission from the RCMP.

Finally, in January 2001, my Interim Report on the Commission's public interest investigation into the RCMP handling of public demonstrations over school closures in Saint-Simon and Saint-Sauveur, New Brunswick, was released. I am currently reviewing the RCMP Commissioner's Notice on this matter and preparing my Final Report. Additionally, the report of the Honourable Ted Hughes on RCMP involvement in public demonstrations during the APEC Conference is scheduled to be released in this fiscal year. I am confident that these two landmark inquiries will ultimately make a compelling contribution to the subject of police conduct in the handling of public demonstrations.

Shirley Heafey
Chair

Management Representation

Section II: Commission Overview

2.1 What's New

Between December 1999 and March 2000, the Commission undertook a major review and strategic planning exercise as a basis for renewal and a source of new direction in the years to come. Details of the key initiatives this exercise identified appear under Section 2.4, Planning Context. As well, the Commission adopted a name change effective January 1, 2001. The agency is now registered under the Federal Identity Program as the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC). Since the inauguration of the Commission in September 1988, many have questioned its status, particularly its independence from the RCMP. The new English title better reflects the mandate of the Commission and helps to reinforce the fact that the Commission is not part of the RCMP. Finally, in January 2001, the Commission Chair released her Interim Report on the Commission's public interest investigation into the RCMP handling of public demonstrations in Saint-Simon and Saint-Sauveur, New Brunswick.

2.2 Mandate, Role and Responsibilities

Figure1: Organizational Structure

Mandate

The CPC is a federal agency that receives and reviews public complaints about the conduct of members of the RCMP in the performance of any duty or function under the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act. The Commission is entirely separate from and independent of the RCMP.

The mandate of the Commission is set out in Part VII of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and can be summarized as follows:

• To receive complaints from the public about the conduct of RCMP members;
• To conduct reviews when complainants are not satisfied with the RCMP's disposition of their complaints;
• To hold hearings and investigations; and
• To report findings and recommendations.

The jurisdiction of the Commission pertains to RCMP members only and does not include members of other police forces. The Commission does not have the authority to make binding recommendations, impose discipline or make monetary awards to complainants.

Role and Responsibilities

The fundamental role of the Commission is to provide civilian oversight of RCMP members' conduct in the performance of their policing duties. The CPC holds the RCMP accountable to the public by providing, at the request of complainants, an independent review of the RCMP's disposition of complaints and by making recommendations to the Commissioner of the RCMP.

Members of the public may make complaints about the conduct of RCMP members to the RCMP, the Commission, or the provincial authority responsible for policing. Complaints are normally sent to the RCMP first. The Commissioner of the RCMP is required to report the results of investigations to complainants. If complainants are not satisfied with the RCMP's disposition of the complaint, they may ask for a review by the Commission. The Chair of the Commission may also initiate a complaint if she considers that there are reasonable grounds to do so.

When reviewing the RCMP's disposition of a complaint, the Commission does not act as an advocate either for the complainant or for RCMP members. Rather, its role is to conduct an independent inquiry and reach objective conclusions based on the available information.

In conducting its review, the Commission considers all relevant information provided by the complainants and the RCMP. If not satisfied that such information is complete, it asks the RCMP for additional information or, where appropriate, conducts its own independent investigation. The Chair also has the authority to hold a public hearing to inquire into a complaint.

When the Chair or Vice-Chair is not satisfied with the RCMP's disposition of a complaint, the CPC produces an interim report containing findings and recommendations; after the RCMP Commissioner replies to the interim report, a final report is forwarded to the Solicitor General, to the Commissioner of the RCMP and to the parties. If the Chair or Vice-Chair concludes that the RCMP responded adequately to the complainant's concerns, a final report stating that the RCMP's disposition of the complaint was satisfactory is delivered.

The Commission reports to Parliament. The Solicitor General of Canada tables the Commission's reports; however, the Solicitor General has no involvement in the operations of the Commission.

2.3 Program Objective

To provide the public with an opportunity to make complaints regarding the conduct of members of the RCMP in the performance of their duties, and to have the RCMP's disposition of those complaints reviewed by an external body in an independent and impartial manner.

2.4 Planning Context

As a result of the Commission's review and strategic planning exercise, the following key initiatives have been identified as priorities over the next five years:

• to eliminate any remaining backlog in reviews in 2000-2001;
• to develop and implement a public communications strategy, especially targeting ethnic minorities or groups who may not understand the public complaints process;
• to develop and implement, in consultation with the RCMP and other key stakeholders, common standards for police investigations of complaints; and
• to develop and implement an information management plan including development of a database on public complaints to provide information on national law enforcement trends for policy analysis.

The Commission will report on the results of these initiatives in future reports to Parliament.

2.5 Commission Planned Spending

Section III: Commission Plans, Results, Activities and Resources

3.1 Business Line Details

Business Line: Receipt and review of public complaints.

Business Line Objective: To provide the public with an opportunity to make complaints regarding the conduct of members of the RCMP in the performance of their duties, and to have the RCMP's disposition of those complaints reviewed by an external body in an independent and impartial manner.

Business Line Description: The Commission is an impartial and independent government institution. It receives complaints from the public and transfers them to the RCMP for investigation. It can also review the RCMP's disposition of a complaint if the complainant is not satisfied with that disposition. The Commission may conduct investigations, hold public hearings, summon witnesses, administer oaths, accept such evidence as the Commission sees fit, and make findings and recommendations to the Commissioner of the RCMP and the Solicitor General of Canada. The Commission Chair may initiate complaints. The Chair must also submit an Annual Report to the Solicitor General setting out a summary of the activities of the Commission during the year and recommendations for tabling before each House of Parliament.

3.2 Key Results Commitments, Planned Results, Related Activities and Resources

Section IV: Financial Information

Table 4.1: Net Cost of Program for 2001-2002

Section V: Other Information

5.1 For Further Information

Head Office
P.O. Box 3423
Station "D"
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 6L4
(613) 952-1471
1-800-267-6637

Western Region
7337-137th Street
Suite 102
Surrey, British Columbia
V3W 1A4
(604) 501-4080
1-800-665-6878

Web Site
www.cpc-cpp.gc.ca

5.2 Legislation

The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP shares responsibility with the RCMP for carrying out the provisions of:

Part VII, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act R.S., c. R-10, Part VII

In addition, the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP reports to Parliament on:

Parts VI and VII, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act R.S., c. R-10, Part VI, Part VII

5.3 Publications

Annual Reports
1988-1989 to 1999-2000

RCMP Act (Commission consolidation) March 1990

Police Pursuits and Public Safety (A Report by the RCMP Public Complaints Commission)Autumn 1999

Report from the Strategic Planning Session of the RCMP Public Complaints Commission, April 5-7, 2000