Annex B: Response letter from the Chief of the Defence Staff to the Chairperson dated July 25, 2002

25 July 2002

Madame Louise Cobetto
Chairperson, Military Police Complaints Commission
270 Albert Street, 10 Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
KIP5G8

Dear Madame Cobetto

Thank you for the copy of your Interim Report following the Commission's Public Interest Investigation pursuant to Subsection 250.38(l) of the National Defence Act with respect to the Complaints of Lieutenant-Colonel Tony Battista and Major Gordon Wight.

I have considered your request to review the Interim Report. Under section 250.49 of the National Defence Act, the Provost Marshal has a statutory duty to review the complaint in light of the findings and recommendations set out in the report, unless the Provost Marshal is the subject of the complaint. It is my assessment that the Provost Marshal is not the subject of the complaint, and as confirmed by your Interim Report, had no involvement in the conduct of the related investigations. Therefore, I have passed this matter to Provost Marshal for her review in accordance with the Act. If it appears that there are issues remaining to be resolved on the completion of this review, I will of course provide any comments that I may have at that time.

Your assistance in bringing a positive resolution to this matter is appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

R.R. Henault
General

c.c.	Minister of National Defence Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Canadian Forces Provost Marshal

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