Conduct Case MPCC 2021‑039 Summary
Deficiencies in the Conduct of an Investigation – Briefing Sessions with Victims
On October 14, 2021, the complainant filed a complaint of misconduct regarding two criminal investigations conducted by the Canadian Forces National Investigations Service (CFNIS) between 2019 and 2021. These investigations concerned allegations of sexual solicitation, sexual harassment, and sexual assault involving two Canadian Forces chaplains. According to the complainant, deficiencies in the conduct of these investigations compromised the investigative process, and the investigations concluded without any criminal charges being laid.
On October 16, 2024, following its initial review, the Office of Professional Standards (PS) concluded that five of the seven allegations were substantiated. It was decided to reopen the two criminal investigations and refer the matter for review under the Military Police Code of Conduct.
On November 7, 2024, the complainant asked the Military Police Complaints Commission (MPCC) to review three allegations from his initial complaint:
- CFNIS investigators failed to consider crucial information that could have led to the filing of criminal charges.
- CFNIS investigators failed to collect evidence that would have allowed the prosecutor to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to lay criminal charges.
- The presence of three CFNIS investigators at a briefing session with the complainant was unreasonable and created a power imbalance in their favor, as they feared his reaction to the announcement of the decision not to reopen the investigation.
After reviewing the case, the MPCC concluded, as did PS, that the first two allegations were supported by the available evidence. It also concluded that the measures taken in response to these allegations—namely, to reopen the two criminal investigations and to refer the matter for review under the Military Police Code of Conduct—were reasonable. The MPCC recommended that investigators regularly update the complainant on the progress of the investigations and that the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal (CFPM) provide the complainant with the findings of the Code of Conduct review.
The MPCC concluded that the third allegation was not supported by the available evidence. It nevertheless reiterated that the roles and responsibilities of individuals present during debriefing sessions with victims must be clearly explained and understood, and that the conditions of these meetings must foster respectful and transparent communication.
The MPCC also noted that the CFNIS’s handling of the initial complaint did not meet the standards expected for a sexual assault complaint. It further emphasized the importance of addressing misconduct complaints within a reasonable timeframe.
In light of the notification and the letter from the CFPM dated July 24, 2026, the MPCC considers that the three recommendations have been accepted.
The MPCC’s final report was published on August 19, 2026.
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