New Review Mechanism Announced for the RCMP

Richard Swain. Published on March 8, 2010

The Government of Canada has recently heeded long-standing calls for responsible oversight of the RCMP, announcing it will create a new and independent watchdog agency that will have broader powers to investigate and review complaints against the RCMP.

The Government states that “in response to concerns expressed by the public, provinces and territories, parliamentary committees and several major reports, including the Brown Task Force and the O’Connor Commission of Inquiry, the Government is taking action to enhance the independent review of RCMP actions,” and has promised $8 million  over two years to create “a new civilian independent review and complaints commission for the RCMP.”

On her blog, noted human rights and civil liberties advocate Kerry Pither asks, in reference to Justice O’Connor’s recommendation for an overall oversight body for all national security institutions, “If this is truly a response to public concern, parliamentary committees and the Arar Inquiry, why only the RCMP?”