Enhanced Civilian Review
Date: May 12th, 2021
Classification: Unclassified
Fully Releasable: YES
Branch/Agency: CSCCB
Proposed Response:
- In the Prime Minister’s Supplementary Mandate Letter to me in January 2021, the Government re-affirmed its commitment to take action to address systemic inequities in law enforcement and ensure that the RCMP meets the needs and expectations of all Canadian communities, including by enhancing civilian review of the RCMP.
- To this end, we will reintroduce — at the earliest opportunity — legislation to enhance civilian review of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as establish an external review body for the Canada Border Services Agency.
- We will cement, in law, improved standards for responding to public complaint investigations and specified activity reviews.
- Public Safety officials are working diligently with partners to develop legislation that will ensure that the RCMP and the CBSA are worthy of the trust of, and remain accountable to, the Canadian public.
- The Government is taking steps to address the impacts of systemic racism and discrimination, and is working to implement measures to ensure that complaints and reports related to the RCMP and the CBSA are responded to promptly.
- In addition, the Government will continue to collaborate with provincial, municipal and Indigenous leaders to improve how policing is delivered today, including enhancing accountability and transparency, advancing de-escalation, and reducing the use of force.
Background:
In Budget 2019 the Government proposed to amend the Canada Border Services Agency Act, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and other Acts, as required, to expand the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) to serve as the independent review body for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency.
On January 27, 2020, the Minister of Public Safety introduced Bill C-3, which would expand the purview of the CRCC to handle reviews and complaints for both the CBSA and the RCMP. Bill C-3 passed first reading at the House of Commons, but, due to delays related to the Covid-19 pandemic and the prorogation of Parliament in August 2020, the Bill died on the order paper.
On September 23, 2020, the Speech from the Throne committed to:
- Introducing legislation and making investments that take action to address the systemic inequities in all phases of the criminal justice system, from diversion to sentencing, from rehabilitation to records;
- Moving forward on enhanced civilian oversight of our law enforcement agencies, including the RCMP;
- Modernizing training for police and law enforcement, including addressing standards around the use of force;
- Moving forward on RCMP reforms, with a shift toward community-led policing;
- Accelerating work to co-develop a legislative framework for First Nations policing as an essential service.
On January 15, 2021, the Supplementary Mandate Letter to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness re-affirmed the Government’s commitment to take action to address systemic inequities in law enforcement and ensure that the RCMP meets the needs and expectations of all Canadian communities, including enhancing civilian oversight of the RCMP. The letter also stated that the government will introduce and bring into force legislation to create a review body for the CBSA, including measures to ensure that complaints and reports are responded to promptly.
- Date modified: