Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada Issues Annual Report
Highlights Rise in Complaints and Erosion of Oversight Abilities
Ottawa (April 29, 2024) –– Today, the Military Police Complaints Commission (MPCC) published its’ 2023 Annual Report, which highlights its accomplishments in ensuring a system of oversight of the military police that is transparent, accessible, timely and rigorous.
This past year, the number of conduct complaints the MPCC received almost doubled. The MPCC also dealt with an increase in the complexity of complaints and a rise in the number of complaints related to sexual misconduct. However, the most significant challenge the MPCC faced was the erosion of its’ ability to exercise civilian oversight of the military police, given obstacles it faced from the office of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal (CFPM). Namely, it encountered significant difficulties in obtaining the information it requires to ensure fair and thorough investigations. The year also saw: a significant and worrisome reduction in the number of recommendations accepted by the CFPM; refusal to respond to recommendations; refusal to notify complainants of their right to have the MPCC review their complaint in some instances; and restrictive and unilateral interpretation of the MPCC’s jurisdiction.
The report highlights that most of the challenges in holding the military police accountable, could be fixed through legislative reform which the MPCC Chairperson recommended to the Minister of National Defence in 2023. The proposed legislative changes include those recommended by former Supreme Court Justice Morris Fish, as well as some additional recommendations from the MPCC.
Despite these challenges, the MPCC issued 48 decisions, including seven decisions in public interest cases. It made 23 recommendations to the CFPM and initiated two new public interest investigations. The MPCC also undertook important steps to improve accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion in its workforce and operations.
Quick Facts
- The MPCC was created in 1999 as independent civilian oversight of the Canadian Forces Military Police.
- The MPCC noted a significant increase in the number of new conduct complaints received in 2023, creating a historically high workload. The average number of conduct complaints in the past three years was 47; in 2023, it increased to 84.
- The MPCC received 3 new interference complaints in 2023.
- In recent years, the MPCC has also seen an important increase in the number of complaints related to sexual misconduct, from a total of 12 in 2020 and 2021 combined, to 35 in the last two years (16 in 2023).
- The MPCC handled a total of 328 files in 2023 and issued 48 decisions. This included 7 decisions in public interest cases and 13 final reports.
- The MPCC made 23 recommendations to the CFPM in 2023. The CFPM accepted only 39% of these recommendations, a significant decline from previous years.
Quotes from the Chairperson
“Independent oversight of law enforcement is crucial to police legitimacy and effectiveness; one cannot exist without the other. However, that legitimacy and effectiveness are eroded when the civilian police oversight body cannot easily access the information needed to perform its review and oversight roles, and encounters resistance in implementing recommendations aimed at improving the system.”
“Implementing Justice Fish’s recommendations and the MPCC additional proposals would strengthen the accountability framework for the military Police. It will also demonstrate to Canadians that all federal law enforcement officers in Canada, including those who wear military uniforms, will be held to account for their conduct by an oversight mechanism that has the legislative means to effectively do so.”
Me Tammy Tremblay, MSM, CD, LL.M.
Chairperson
Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada
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