Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada Issues 2024 Annual Report

As it celebrates 25 years, the MPCC calls for legislative reform to address barriers to oversight mandate

Ottawa (June 17, 2025) –– Today, the Military Police Complaints Commission (MPCC) published its 2024 Annual Report, which calls for legislative reform to strengthen its mandate as it continues to face roadblocks from the office of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal in providing its oversight function.

Continued increase in complaints; improvements to timeliness

Despite facing challenges to its oversight function, the MPCC highlights numerous accomplishments in providing a system of oversight of the military police that is transparent, accessible, timely and rigorous.

In 2024, the MPCC 63 new conducts complaints. Although this is lower than last year, it remains historically high and exceeds the number of new complaints received in the previous three years. The MPCC also continued to see an important increase in the number of complaints received related to sexual misconduct. Despite these increases, the MPCC has significantly improved its timeliness in processing and responding to complaints. It is also proud to report that no designated employment group is under-represented in its workforce.

From resistance to refusal of oversight

The MPCC’s greatest challenge remains the erosion and inability to fully exercise civilian independent oversight of the military police, given roadblocks it faces from the office of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal. The issues highlighted in its 2023 annual report have not only persisted but have worsened in 2024. The situation has escalated from resistance to outright refusal by the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal’s office to respect the oversight regime mandated by Parliament. This includes decisions to close complaints without investigating them.

The annual report also includes examples of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal’s refusal to provide information; a continued and worrisome refusal to accept or respond to recommendations; refusal to notify complainants of their right to have the MPCC review their complaint; failure to provide complainants and subjects with updates on the status of the files when complaints are placed in abeyance; and restrictive and unilateral interpretation of the MPCC’s jurisdiction.

Call for legislative reform to improve civilian independent oversight of the military police

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. To advance this goal, the MPCC drafted a proposed Bill in 2024 to update the oversight and accountability regime of the military police. It was shared with the Minister of National Defence and key stakeholders in December 2024. The proposed legislative changes include those recommended by former Supreme Court Justice Morris Fish, as well as some additional recommendations from the MPCC.

“As the MPCC celebrates 25 years since being established, now is the time to take decisive action and address the roadblocks hindering its ability to fully exercise its oversight mandate. Without legislative reform, these barriers risk undermining Parliament’s intent in establishing an oversight system for the military police. More than ever, independent, civilian review of military police conduct is essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring accountability in policing.”

M^e Tammy Tremblay, MSM, CD, LL.M.
Chairperson
Military Police Complaints Commission of Canada

Quick Facts

• This year marks the 25^th anniversary of the MPCC. It was created in 1999 as independent civilian oversight of the Canadian Forces Military Police.
• The MPCC continues to note a significant volume of new conduct complaints received in recent years, resulting in an increased workload. Despite this, the MPCC has significantly improved its timeliness in processing and responding to complaints.
• In 2024, the MPCC received 63 new conduct complaints, down from a historical high of 84 in 2023, but exceeding the number of complaints received in the previous three years.
• 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 58 in the last three years (13 in 2024).
• The MPCC handled a total of 365 files in 2024 and issued 38 decisions. This included 6 decisions in public interest cases and 9 final reports.
• The MPCC made 9 recommendations to the CFPM in 2024. The CFPM rejected 44% of these recommendations.
• Over the past four years, delays by the CFPM Professional Standards Office in addressing complaints at the initial stage have led to a significant backlog being monitored by the MPCC. In 2021, 38 complaints were carried over from the previous year by Professional Standards, but by 2024, this number had more than tripled, reaching 143.

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Date modified:

2025-06-17