Afghanistan Public Interest Hearing (APIH)

On March 12, 2008, the Chair of the Military Police Complaints Commission (MPCC) directed that the investigation into the complaints lodged by Amnesty International Canada and British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (AIC-BCCLA) move to a public hearing process. This was required following the delays and difficulties to obtain relevant documents and information from government authorities.

On February 26, 2007, the MPCC had announced the launching a public interest investigation into a complaint regarding the transfer of detainees by Military Police in Afghanistan. This decision related to a joint AIC-BCCLA complaint letter received on February 21, 2007. In the complaint, it was alleged that the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal and unidentified members of the CF Military Police, on at least 18 occasions transferred detainees to Afghan authorities notwithstanding alleged evidence that there was likelihood they would be tortured.

• Ruling on Request by Amnesty International and the BC Civil Liberties Association for Waiver of Undertaking - PDF version only * (December 2, 2009)
• Ruling on Request for Extension of Time - PDF version only * (November 2, 2009)
• Afghanistan Public Interest Hearing – Change of Lead Counsel - PDF version only * (October 30, 2009)
• Transcript of Proceedings for the Afghanistan Public Interest Hearings - Panel's Decision Only - PDF version only * (October 14, 2009)
• Transcript of Proceedings for the Afghanistan Public Interest Hearings - PDF version only * (October 14, 2009)
• Commission Begins the Public Interest Hearing into the Allegations Regarding Afghan Detainees (PDF Version)
  (May 20, 2009)
• Government Motion to Stay the Hearings is dismissed by the Federal Court - PDF version only * (April 29, 2009)
• Notice of Hearing (May 25th, 2009) (PDF)* (April 8, 2009)
• Commission Notice of Motion to Intervene (PDF)* (April 8, 2009)
• Commission Written Submissions to Intervene (PDF)* (April 8, 2009)
• Government Notice of Motion for a Stay of the Public Interest Hearing (only PDF) * (March 30, 2009)
• Decision to Recommend Funding for Legal Counsel to B.C. Civil Liberties Association - PDF version only (February 5, 2009)
• Order Adjourning the Afghanistan Public Interest Hearings - PDF version only (February 3, 2009)
• Commission Counsel Letter to Government Counsel Regarding Submissions on Stay of Proceedings - PDF version only (February 3, 2009)
• Government Counsel Letter Regarding Motion of BCCLA Funding - PDF version only (January 30, 2009)
• Government Counsel Letter Regarding a Stay of Proceedings - PDF version only (January 29, 2009)
• Notice of Hearing: Afghanistan Public Interest Hearings - PDF version only (January 16, 2009)
• B.C. Civil Liberties Association Legal Counsel Funding Motion (January 15, 2009)
• Transcript for the Procedural Overview for the Afghanistan Public Interest Hearings - PDF version only (December 4, 2008)
• Media Advisory for the Procedural Overview: Afghanistan Public Interest Hearings - PDF version only (December 2, 2008)
• Notice of Procedural Overview: Afghanistan Public Interest Hearings - PDF version only (November 4, 2008)
• Notice: Government Request for Federal Court Judicial Review of the Chair's September 30, 2008 Decision - PDF version only (October 30,2008)
• Decision (s. 250.38 NDA) Regarding a Complaint by Amnesty International Canada and British Columbia Civil Liberties Association in June 2008 - PDF version only (September 30, 2008)
• Update to the Current AIC-BCCLA Complaint and the Request to Commence a New Complaint Regarding the Transfer of Detainees in Afghanistan - PDF version only (June 12, 2008)
• Announcement: Commission Appoints Counsel for All Matters Relating to the Public Interest Proceedings Regarding the Amnesty International Canada - British Columbia Civil Liberties Association Complaint Concerning the Military Police's Handling of Detainees in Afghanistan. - PDF version *(Apr 17, 2008)
• News Release: Complaints Commission "Surprised" by Government Law Suit - pdf Version * (Apr 14, 2008) - Backgrounder (PDF version) *
• Notice: Government Request for Federal Court Judicial Review (April 11, 2008)
• News Release: Commission Forced to Hold Public Interest Hearing into Allegations Concerning Detainee Transfers in Afghanistan - PDF version * (March 12, 2008)
• Commission Chair's Decision to Hold a Public Interest Hearing on Detainee Treatment in Afghanistan - PDF version * (March 12, 2008)
• Commission General Counsel's Response to Government lawyer - PDF version * (March 7, 2008)
• Governmental Response to the Commission's One-Year Status Letter - PDF version *(February 22, 2008)
• Commission Issues its One-Year Status Letter into its Afghanistan Complaint - PDF version * (February 20, 2008)
• MPCC Chair's letter to the Minister of National Defence Regarding the Status of the AIC-BCCLA Complaint Public Interest Investigation - PDF version* (January 28, 2008)
• News release: Commission to Launch a Second Probe into the Handling of Detainees in Afghanistan by the Military Police (February 26, 2007)
• Full Decision to Launch Probe into Second Afghanistan Complaint - PDF version * (February 26, 2007)
• AIC-BCCLA Complaint letter regarding the transfer of detainees by military police in Afghanistan - PDF version (February 21, 2007)

^*Note: to read the PDF version you need Adobe Acrobat Reader on your system.