THE MILITARY POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMISSION OF CANADA

Like its counterpart agencies that oversee civilian police services, the Complaints Commission investigates and reviews complaints about the conduct of military police members; in addition, it also investigates complaints of interference with military police investigations. This recognizes the unique and sometimes difficult situations military police face in carrying out their investigations - they are responsible to their superiors within the military police organization but, as members of the Canadian Forces, they also hold a place within the chain of command. Any member of the military police who believes a member of the Canadian Forces or a senior official with the Department of National Defence has interfered with their investigation may file a complaint.

Canadians can be proud that their nation is among the world leaders in bringing this type of accountability to its military police service. As the late Brian Dickson, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada stated in the 1997 Report of the Special Advisory Group on Military Police and Military Police Investigations,

"Independent oversight is especially important for the military police and, in this regard, civilian oversight of police services is particularly instructive. If an individual citizen complains to a civilian police force about improper conduct of its personnel, there is an expectation of and a right to a response. The situation should be no different in the military context...an independent review capability is essential to ensure confidence and respect for the military justice system."

The Right Honourable Antonio Lamer, another former Chief Justice, who presided over the five-year independent review of the National Defence Act in 2003, reinforced the crucial role played by civilian oversight of military police:

"I cannot emphasize enough the importance of independent oversight of the military police. Oversight is essential to promote confidence in the investigative process and to ensure that both complainants and members of the military police are dealt with impartially and fairly."

The members and staff of the Military Police Complaints Commission continue to strive to ensure that complaints of improper conduct against members of the military police are dealt with in a full, fair and transparent manner, and that military police are able to conduct their investigations free of interference from the chain of command.

To learn more about the part-time Members of the Complaints Commission and the structure of the Complaints Commission's organization, please refer to Annex A and Annex B of this Annual Report.

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