Response to parliamentary committees and external audits
Response to parliamentary committees
Government Response to the First Report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security entitled: “Systemic Racism in Policing in Canada”
Summary:
On June 17, 2021, the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) tabled its report entitled “Systemic Racism in Policing in Canada”. This report and the study preceding it were undertaken by SECU with the goal of examining a number of issues regarding systemic racism in policing in Canada, including but not limited to: the overrepresentation of Indigenous and racialized people in the criminal justice system; over- and under-policing, racial profiling and discriminatory use of force against Indigenous and racialized people; the intersections of policing, race and mental health; the availability of culturally appropriate and evidence-based crisis intervention programs; police accountability, oversight and transparency; and the modernization, professionalization, and civilianization of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Recommendations:
The Committee provided 42 recommendations in its report, which fell into several larger categories including (but not limited to):
- Enhancing RCMP accountability, oversight and transparency;
- Improving the RCMP's harassment and conduct regimes and its workplace culture;
- Modernizing the RCMP's approach to policing, including making it more equitable, diverse and inclusive;
- Building police competencies through increased and improved training;
- Reviewing police use of force frameworks, increasing de-escalation techniques and prohibiting racial profiling;
- Crafting partnerships and increasing support for mental health, social and victims services and crisis response;
- Supporting the development of Indigenous policing models, including co-developing a legislative framework for First Nations policing;
- Improving access to and support for restorative justice programs and other diversionary measures; and
- Collecting disaggregated race-based data and improved statistical reporting
Response Hyperlink/Summary:
The Government provided its response to SECU's recommendations on May 31, 2022.
Corrective Actions:
The Government Response to the report addressed each of the 42 recommendations individually, and also outlined both the existing and planned efforts to combat systemic racism in policing in Canada undertaken by numerous Departments and Agencies, including the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission, Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Health Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, Justice Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Public Safety Canada, the RCMP, Statistics Canada, and Women and Gender Equality Canada.
The Government acknowledged the importance of all 42 recommendations, and agreed with, or planned to, give further consideration to all but two recommendations where action would infringe on provincial and territorial responsibility for the administration of justice and policing. The Government also committed to continuing to strive to address systemic racism in policing in Canada by enhancing accountability and improving the conduct of law enforcement agencies; increasing police training and competencies, including on issues of use of force, racial profiling, gender-based violence and crisis management; fostering better relationships with Indigenous and racialized communities and bolstering Indigenous policing and restorative justice services; improving data collection and statistical reporting; and engaging with Canadian communities, including with Indigenous and racialized communities, on the future of policing in Canada. In November 2021, the Government introduced Bill C-20, which seeks to address many of SECU's recommendations to improve the accountability, oversight and transparency of law enforcement agencies in Canada. In 2023, Public Safety Canada led in-person engagement sessions with provincial, territorial, municipal and Indigenous partners, as well as with other stakeholders, on the future of contract policing in Canada.
Additionally, in 2023 the Government appointed new members to the RCMP Management Advisory Board. A new Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and five (5) members were appointed to ensure ongoing provision of external expert advice to the RCMP Commissioner on the administration and management of the RCMP, including issues related to RCMP transformation and modernization. In June and July 2023, the Board provided advice to the RCMP Commissioner on Carotid Control Technique and the Externalization of the Independent Centre for Harassment Resolution; issues that SECU's report on systemic racism highlight. The Board's advice is another step in the reviewing the RCMP's approach to improving its operational frameworks.
Government Response to the Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security entitled: “A Path Forward: Reducing Gun and Gang Violence in Canada”.
Summary:
On April 25, 2022, the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) tabled its report, entitled A Path Forward: Reducing Gun and Gang Violence in Canada. Between December 2021 and April 2022, SECU undertook a study on gun control, illegal arms trafficking, and the increase in gun crimes committed by street gang members. This study involved holding seven meetings where the committee heard from 58 witnesses and received written briefs from a number of stakeholders. During the study, it became clear to the Committee that one policy or program alone will not fix the problem of gun violence within communities. Gun violence is a multifaceted issue requiring reflection and a comprehensive set of solutions that include data collection and research, prevention and intervention, coordination and collaboration between all levels of government, law enforcement agencies, social services, grassroots organizations, Indigenous peoples, and local communities.
Recommendations:
The Committee provided 34 recommendations in its final report that span across four key themes:
- Understanding Gun and Gang Violence;
- Root Causes and Prevention of Gun and Gang Violence;
- Law Enforcement Agencies and Criminal Justice System; and
- Gun Control.
Response Hyperlink/Summary:
Public Safety provided a response to the report on September 15, 2022.
Corrective Actions:
The Government agreed in principle with the majority of the recommendations in the Report. The Government highlighted actions already taken across the Government by Health Canada, Statistics Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Public Safety Canada and Justice Canada to implement recommendations in the Report. These include investments and commitments, ongoing programs and initiatives, as well as pieces of legislation and regulation. For example, but not limited to:
- Enhancing data and research through collaboration with Statistics Canada to improve national data collection related to firearms used in the commission of criminal offences;
- Focusing on gun and gang prevention, diversion, and exit programming for populations facing systemic barriers such as youth and young adults, Indigenous peoples, and racialized communities, including by supporting community organizations;
- Recognizing the connection between illicit drugs and gun and gang violence, addressing substance abuse as well as balancing public health and public safety measures;
- Providing additional resources to law enforcement agencies to better identify illegal guns, strengthen the border to reduce smuggling, enhance training and support of intelligence gathering and sharing;
- Continuing to introduce and implement gun control measures, including by amending legislation and regulations, as well as completing the prohibition on assault-style firearms by implementing the mandatory buyback program; and
- Continuing efforts to advance strategic initiatives with provincial and territorial partners to better understand how criminality differs in urban and rural communities in Canada such as through the Pan-Canadian Rural Crime Framework.
The Government committed to ensuring its combined efforts to strengthen gun control, tackle gun smuggling, and address gun and gang violence contributes to the overall public safety of Canada.
Government Response to the Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance entitled “Invocation of the Emergencies Act and Related Measures”
Summary:
In June 2022, the Standing Committee on Finance (FINA) tabled its report, entitled Invocation of the Emergencies Act and Related Measures (the Report). The Report and study preceding it were undertaken by FINA to study the invocation of the Emergencies Act and related measures taken regarding the 2022 Freedom Convoy. The Report summarizes the testimony brought forward by witnesses and organizes it into chapters according to: the Emergencies Act and Measures Adopted; Consumer Protection and Account Freezes, Businesses and People Impacted by Blockades; Crowdfunding; Financial Intelligence and Regulation; Government and Departmental Communication; Law Enforcement; and Rights and Freedoms.
Recommendations:
The Committee provided 15 recommendations which can be grouped into several themes:
- Oversight and transparency;
- Financial measures;
- Investigations and law enforcement;
- Engagement and communications; and
- Research.
Response Hyperlink/Summary:
Public Safety provided a response to the report on October 17, 2022.
Corrective Actions to Address Recommendations:
The Government Response is organized along the five key themes that emerged from the Committee's recommendations and highlights actions taken by the Government. These include:
- Legislative amendment to require federally incorporated companies to submit beneficial ownership information to Corporations Canada, the federal corporate registry, and allow Corporations Canada to disclose all or part of the information received from corporations to investigative bodies, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), and other prescribed entities.
- Amendment to ensure that crowdfunding platforms and payment service providers are captured under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Regulations (PCMLTFR).
- Implementation of a public and searchable beneficial ownership registry.
- Development of the Canada Financial Crimes Agency (CFCA). The objective of the CFCA is to become the country's lead enforcement agency on financial crimes, and to bolster Canada's ability to quickly respond to complex and fast-moving cases of financial crime.
In addition to FINA, the Public Order Emergency Commission, as part of its broader mandate to examine and assess the basis for the Government's decision to declare a public order emergency in 2022, has also reviewed Emergency Economic Measures Orders made under the Emergencies Act. The Commission released its final report on February 17, 2023, and the Government of Canada has committed to issuing a comprehensive public response by February 2024.
Government Response to the Sixth Report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security: “The Rise of Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism in Canada”
Summary:
In June 2022, the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) tabled its report, titled “The Rise of Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism in Canada”. This report was undertaken with the goal of examining issues relevant to ideologically motivated violent extremism (IMVE), including:
- The growth and under-reporting of hate crimes;
- Social fragmentation and polarization stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic;
- The use of social media in fueling ideologies underpinning acts of IMVE; and,
- Canada's current response to IMVE threats.
Recommendations:
The SECU provided 33 recommendations in its report, the first of which was to work with provinces and territories to develop a national strategy to address IMVE. The subsequent recommendations constituted elements to be included in this strategy, including, but not limited to:
- Digital safety, digital media literacy and online hate regulations;
- Preventative measures;
- Human-rights based authorities modernization;
- Terrorism financing laws;
- Hate crime statistics;
- Addressing biases within military/law enforcement and law enforcement training;
- A survivor-centered approach to addressing IMVE; and,
- IMVE awareness.
Response Hyperlink/Summary:
The Government of Canada provided its response to the SECU's recommendations on October 18, 2022.
Corrective Actions:
The Government of Canada's response to the report addressed each of the 33 recommendations individually by outlining the existing and prospective efforts of several departments and agencies, including Public Safety Canada, to counter the rise of IMVE in Canada. The Government either agreed with, partially agreed with or took note of all 33 recommendations.
The Government of Canada is continuing its work to develop policy and legislative proposals to enhance the Government of Canada's response to IMVE. Public Safety is also coordinating the renewal of Canada's Counter-terrorism Strategy, which was last published in 2011, to better reflect the changing threat environment and the Government of Canada's activities to address violent extremism.
The SECU report and its recommendations remain informative for the Government of Canada as it moves forward with proposing measures to address the rise of IMVE.
Response to audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (including audits conducted by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)
There were no audits in 2022–23 requiring a response
Response to audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
There were no audits in 2022–23 requiring a response.
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