Military Police Complaints Commission’s Annual Report
Tabled in Parliament Today

OTTAWA, May 9, 2002--- The 2001 Annual Report of the Military Police Complaints Commission was submitted to Parliament today by the Honourable Art Eggleton, Minister of National Defence.

Outlook with Vision reports on the activities and achievements of the Commission during the second year of its existence. Between January 1 and December 31, 2001, the Commission examined 64 misconduct complaints (involving a total of 98 allegations of misconduct relating to police functions and duties) as well as two interference complaints. The Chairman submitted five interim reports and three final reports, which included 44 conclusions, 11 observations and 11 recommendations. The Annual Report presents summaries of the principal cases examined in 2001.

The Military Police Complaints Commission is a young organization that has quickly taken its place among civilian oversight organizations. “I am particularly proud of the fact that the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal have accepted all of the conclusions and recommendations contained in Commission reports to date,” stated Commission Chairperson, Louise Cobetto.

The Commission is committed to enhancing the level of confidence placed in the military police by members of the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces as well as by Canadians in general. “My team and I will continue to make every effort to ensure that the Commission completely fulfils the role it has been assigned, which is to bring increased impartiality to the military justice system by monitoring work related to the military police,” continued Ms. Cobetto.

The Canadian Forces include approximately 1,200 military police members, 110 of whom form the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service.

The Military Police Complaints Commission, a quasi-judicial civilian oversight authority, is external, autonomous and independent of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. The creation of the Commission in December 1999 was intended to make the handling of complaints involving the military police more transparent and accessible.

Michael O'Shaughnessy
Executive Asst to the Chairperson and Communications Manager
Tel.: (613) 947-5704
Fax. : (613) 947-5713
E-mail : oshaughnessym@mpcc-cppm.gc.ca