Info Source: Sources of Federal Government and Employee Information

Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada

Table of Contents

General Information

Introduction to Info Source

Info Source describes the programs and activities, and the information holdings related to programs and activities, of government institutions subject to the Access to Information Act to facilitate the right of access. It also provides individuals, including current and former employees of the Government of Canada, with relevant information to access personal information about themselves held by government institutions subject to the Privacy Act and to exercise their rights under the Privacy Act.

An index of institutions that are subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act is available centrally.

The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act assign overall responsibility to the President of Treasury Board (as the designated Minister) for the government-wide administration of the legislation.

Background

The Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada (MPCC) was established by an Act of Parliament to provide independent civilian oversight of the Canadian Forces Military Police (MP), effective December 1, 1999. This was executed by an amendment to the National Defence Act (NDA), Part IV of which sets out the full mandate of the MPCC and how complaints are to be handled. As stated in Issue Paper No. 8, which accompanied the Bill that created the MPCC, its role is "to provide for greater public accountability by the Military Police and the chain of command in relation to Military Police investigations." The MPCC reports to Parliament through the Minister of National Defence and operates independently of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces.

Responsibilities

The MPCC's mandate is set out in Part IV of the National Defence Act, which provides the following powers:

  • monitoring investigations by the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal of military police conduct complaints;
  • reviewing disposition of conduct complaints about military police members, at the request of complainants;
  • investigating complaints of interference made by military police members;
  • conducting public interest investigations and hearings;
  • reporting findings and making recommendations to the military police and national defence leadership.

The MPCC’s mission is to promote and ensure the highest standards of conduct by the military police, to deter interference in military police investigations and to enhance public confidence in military policing.

For more information on the MPCC, please see the Overview of the Commission webpage.

Institutional programs and activities

Institution-specific content

Complaints Resolution

This program aims to successfully resolve complaints about the conduct of the Military Police (MP) members as well as complaints of interference with MP investigations by overseeing and reviewing all complaints received. This program is necessary to help the MP to be as effective and as professional as possible in their policing duties or functions.

For more information on the Complaints Process and Complaints Resolution, please see the Overview of the Commission webpage.

Complaints Review and Investigations/Hearings

Description: Information consisting of documentation on the complaint handling process of the Military Police Complaints Commission (MPCC).
Document Types: Correspondence; complaint file summaries and tracking; Military Police (MP) investigation reports; Canadian Forces Military Police Group (CF MP Gp)/Office of Professional Standards investigation reports; electronic and paper MPCC investigative products and reports.
Record Number: MPCC OPS 010

  • Complaint Review and Investigation/Hearing
    Description: This bank includes information regarding complaints from any person about MP conduct exhibited in the course of MP policing duties and functions; requests for review by complainants; complaints by MPs and their direct supervisors of interference in MP investigations by other Canadian Forces (CF) or senior Department of National Defence (DND) personnel; and public interest investigations/hearings ordered by the MPCC. The records contain identifying information from letters provided by individuals; correspondence with complainants, subjects and witnesses familiar with the complaint; correspondence with CF MP Gp personnel, including the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal (CFPM) and their staff; and information gathered during investigations including statements provided by individuals and parties to the allegations. Some of this information is also captured in a case management system to keep track of information about active cases and to generate reports on cases, whether active or inactive. Each case is allocated a number, and the reporting allows users to have an overview of all cases and to make comparisons with specific cases.

    All sensitive information collected will be protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act and by security safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information, including:

    • names (first and last),
    • date of birth,
    • contact information (email addresses, phone numbers (personal, work or cellphone), home addresses (mailing addresses if different), preferred contact method)
    • signature and date,
    • Official Language of choice,
    • physical attributes,
    • employee identification numbers (ex: members service numbers),
    • medical information,
    • biographical information,
    • financial information,
    • photos,
    • personal information affecting individual’s reputation,
    • opinions and views about the complainants and parties to the complaint.

    The MPCC’s Complaints Process summarizes the communication and reports process internally and external to the MPCC.

    Class of Individuals: Complainants; personnel in the CF MP Gp including MP subjects, the CFPM and their staff; senior CF and DND officials; witnesses and other parties to the complaint.

    Purpose: Information is collected pursuant to Part IV of the National Defence Act, "Complaints About or by Military Police". This information is used to record, inquire into and follow up on complaints regarding MP conduct in the context of their policing duties and functions; or regarding interference complaints by MPs in their investigations.

    Consistent Uses:  Final reports of public interest investigations/hearings are posted in full on the MPCC’s website; de-personalized summaries of all non-public interest cases are also posted. The MPCC submits annual reports to Parliament with respect to activities under Part IV of the National Defence Act, which may include select anonymized case summaries.

    Retention and Disposal Standards: All complaints, review and investigations/hearings files and data (other than public interest files) are retained for ten years after the last administrative action and then destroyed. Materials related to Public Interest files are retained indefinitely.
    RDA Number: 2004/013
    Related Record Number: MPCC OPS 010
    TBS Registration: 005242
    Bank Number: MPCC PPU 050

Note: Includes information previously found in PPU 055 MP Complaints Case Management System.

Legal Research

Description: Information on the administration of legal matters and legal advice relating to the handling of complaints, requests for review, and public interest investigations/hearings ordered by the MPCC.
Document Types: Legal opinions; Federal Court judicial review applications; agreements; court documents; submissions to a Public Interest Investigation or Hearing.
Record Number: MPCC OPS 015

  • Legal Data
    Description: Information on legal proceedings related to specific complaints, requests for review, and public interest investigations/hearings handled by the MPCC; to serve as a repository of legal information in these matters. The personal information retained in this bank originates from the cases reviewed or investigated by the MPCC. It may include the name, address and other personal identifiers of the individuals as well as factual information that may lead to the identification of the individuals involved directly or indirectly in these cases, as well as privileged information such as solicitor-client information.

    Class of Individuals: General public; complainants; members of the CF MP Gp including MP subjects, the CFPM and their staff; senior CF and DND officials; witnesses and other parties to the complaint.

    Purpose: Information is collected pursuant to Part IV of the National Defence Act, "Complaints About or by Military Police". The information in this bank enables the MPCC to carry out its mandate when handling complaints concerning the conduct of members of the MP; complaints by an MP member or their direct supervisor, alleging interference in an MP investigation; or public interest investigations/hearings called by the MPCC. The personal information retained relates to the legal position and legal opinions developed by the MPCC to the pertinent individual(s) and case(s).

    Consistent Uses:  The information may be used for legal analysis, risk assessment, litigation management, preparation of legal opinions, development of legal positions and arguments, representation in judicial or administrative proceedings, preparation of submissions and legal documents, consultation with appropriate officials involved in the handling of a matter, and to support decision-making related to the exercise of the MPCC's statutory mandate. Information may also be used for precedent research, case management, and the administration of solicitor-client privileged legal services provided to the MPCC.
    Retention and Disposal Standards: Information in this bank is retained until its operational value expires and is then eligible for destruction.
    RDA Number: 2004/013
    Related Record Number: MPCC OPS 015
    TBS Registration: 20110400
    Bank Number: MPCC PPU 060

Reports

Description: Information on the preparation of MPCC interim and final reports of the Chairperson, on reviews, investigations or hearings as well as special reports, papers, and legislative submissions. Final reports of public interest investigations/hearings are posted and all non-public interest cases are posted as de-personalized summaries on the MPCC's website.
Document Types: Interim Reports; Final Reports; Concluding Reports, special reports; issue papers; legislative submissions.
Record Number: MPCC OPS 020

Internal Services

Internal services constitute groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are acquisition services, communications services, financial management, human resources management, information management services, information technology services, legal services, management and oversight services, materiel services, real property services, and travel and other administrative services. Internal services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

Acquisition Services

Acquisition services involve activities undertaken to acquire a good or service to fulfill a properly completed request (including a complete and accurate definition of requirements and certification that funds are available) until entering into or amending a contract.

Communications Services

Communications services involve activities undertaken to ensure that Government of Canada communications are effectively managed, well-coordinated and responsive to the diverse information needs of the public. The communications management function ensures that the public - internal or external - receives government information, and that the views and concerns of the public are taken into account in the planning, management and evaluation of policies, programs, services and initiatives.

Financial Management

Financial management services involve activities undertaken to ensure the prudent use of public resources, including planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, control and oversight, analysis, decision support and advice, and financial systems.

Human Resources Management

Human resources management services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, allocating resources among services and processes, as well as activities relating to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies and plans.

Information Management Services

Information management services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective information management to support program and service delivery; foster informed decision making; facilitate accountability, transparency and collaboration; and preserve and ensure access to information and records for the benefit of present and future generations.

Information Technology Services

Information technology services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective use of information technology to support government priorities and program delivery, to increase productivity, and to enhance services to the public.

Legal Services

Legal services involve activities undertaken to enable government departments and agencies to pursue policy, program and service delivery priorities and objectives within a legally sound framework.

Management and Oversight Services

Management and oversight services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction and allocating resources among services and processes, as well as those activities related to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies or plans.

Materiel Services

Materiel services involve activities undertaken to ensure that materiel can be managed by departments in a sustainable and financially responsible manner that supports the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

Real Property Services

Real property services involve activities undertaken to ensure that real property is managed in a sustainable and financially responsible manner, throughout its life cycle, to support the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

Travel and Other Administrative Services

Travel and other administrative services include Government of Canada travel services, as well as those other internal services that do not smoothly fit with any of the internal services categories.

Legend

  • Standard Classes of Records (CoRs)
  • Standard Personal Information Banks (PIBs)

Manuals

Additional Information

For general information about making a request for access to information or personal information, see Make an access to information or personal information request.

To make a request for information online, access the Access to Information and Personal Information Online Request Service.

To make a request for information under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act by mail, mail your letter or completed Access to Information Request Form (Access to Information Act) or Personal Information Request Form (Privacy Act), along with any necessary documents (such as consent or the $5 application fee for a request under the Access to Information Act), to the following address:

Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada
270 Albert Street, 10th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5G8

In accordance with the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, an area on the premises will be made available to review original materials on site if that is the applicant’s preference (and it is practical to do so), or if it is not practical to create copies of the material.

Please note: Each request made to the MPCC under the Access to Information Act must be accompanied by an application fee of $5. For requests made online, this is paid at the time of application via credit card. For requests made by mail, this should be paid by enclosing cheque or money order made payable to the Receiver General for Canada.

The Government of Canada encourages the release of information through requests outside of the formal request processes. To make an informal request, contact:

Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada
270 Albert Street, 10th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5G8

Telephone: 613-947-5625 or 1-800-632-0566 (toll free)
E-mail: atip-aiprp@mpcc-cppm.gc.ca
Internet: https://www.mpcc-cppm.gc.ca

You may also wish to search summaries of completed access to information requests for which the MPCC has already provided responses in the Completed Access to Information Requests | Open Government - Government of Canada, as this information may be more easily obtained. You may also wish to review available open data regarding the MPCC on the Proactive disclosure | Open Government - Government of Canada.

The MPCC conducts privacy impact assessments (PIAs) to ensure that privacy implications will be appropriately identified, assessed and resolved before a new or substantially modified program or activity involving personal information is implemented. Summaries of completed PIAs are not currently available.

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