ARCHIVED - Harper Government enhances RCMP accountability and transparency

OTTAWA, June 19, 2013 — The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, today announced that Bill C-42: Enhancing Royal Canadian Mounted Police Accountability Act, received Royal Assent.

"Our Government has followed through on its commitment to give the RCMP the tools it needs to enhance public confidence and increase accountability to its members and to Canadians," said Minister Toews. "The legislation enacted today will enable the RCMP to continue its ongoing transformation, and will help the RCMP remain a strong and accountable national police force now, and in the future."

The Enhancing Royal Canadian Mounted Police Accountability Act is designed to enhance accountability and transparency by:

• Creating a new Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) to replace the existing Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC) and providing it with enhanced powers.
• Establishing a statutory framework for handling investigations of serious incidents involving RCMP members, which will improve the transparency and accountability of these investigations.
• Modernizing the RCMP's discipline, grievance and human resource management processes, with a view to preventing, addressing and correcting performance and conduct issues in a timely and fair manner. This includes enabling the Commissioner to establish a specific process for the investigation and resolution of harassment when a member of the Force is a respondent.

"The RCMP is pleased that the Enhancing RCMP Accountability Act has received assent. This legislation will further help us to enhance our accountability to Canadians and to RCMP employees," said Commissioner Paulson. "We are taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to the implementation of this significant organizational change. Legislation is an enabler of change; real cultural transformation comes from within; through action, leadership and engagement of all employees."

"The RCMP has committed to making the Enhancing Royal Canadian Mounted Police Accountability Act a cornerstone of its efforts to reinforce a culture that promotes accountability and transparency. This legislation will significantly strengthen policies and processes the RCMP has already put in place to help ensure a safe, healthy and respectful workplace for it employees," said Minister Toews. 

Enactment of the Enhancing Royal Canadian Mounted Police Accountability Act is another important milestone on the path to modernizing the RCMP and making it more responsive to the needs and expectations of Canadians, stakeholders and RCMP members themselves.

It will also support the implementation of Respectful Workplace Programs across Canada, as outlined in Gender and Respect: The RCMP Action Plan. Changes to the RCMP's human resource management regime resulting from the legislation will be reviewed three years after those sections come into force to determine if they are having the desired results.

The legislation builds on the accountability mechanisms included in the 2012–2032 Police Services Agreements signed by Contract Provinces and Territories, and further strengthens the RCMP's relationship with its contract partners.

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For further information:

Julie Carmichael
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2924

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657

Date modified:

2015-11-20