Response to parliamentary committees and external audits

1. Winter 2023: Government Response to the 10th Report on ETHI: “Foreign Interference and the Threats of the Integrity of Democratic Institutions, Intellectual Property and the Canadian State”

On October 22, 2023, the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy, and Ethics (ETHI) presented a Government Response (GR) to the tenth report on ETHI. The Committee examined various aspects of foreign interference and raised issues on the rise of xenophobia, illicit disclosures, and the risks of technological advances. In addition, the Committee presented a case study concerning allegations of foreign interference through a donation to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.

Of the 22 recommendations in the GR, the RCMP led the response to recommendation 7 and supported responses to 15 recommendations. Recommendation 7 stated:

7. Make full use of existing legislation, such as the Security of Information Act and other relevant acts as enforcement resources and tools.

The RCMP is mandated to provide essential Federal Services and provide a review of recommendations to improve Canada’s response to foreign interference and matters of national security. The RCMP worked in close collaboration with government departments in the elaboration of their respective responses to the recommendations.

2. Government Response to the Twelfth Report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) entitled “National Strategy for Veterans Employment”.

In October 2023, the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs published its twelfth report entitled: National Strategy for Veterans Employment. The Government Response addressed the Committee’s 30 recommendations. Of the 30 recommendations outlined in the report, the RCMP was implicated in Recommendation 25, regarding fast-tracking the acquisition of clearances for Veterans who recently held clearances in the past. In response, the Government outlined how it is already addressing the issue by reviewing its entire security clearance processing enterprise.

3. Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC)

On April 25, 2022, the Government of Canada established the Public Order Emergency Commission to inquire into the circumstances that led to the declaration of emergency that was in place from February 14-23, 2022, and the measures taken for dealing with the emergency. On February 17, 2023, the Report of the Public Inquiry into the 2022 Public Order Emergency was released. The report included 56 recommendations, 17 of which directly impact the RCMP. In response, the RCMP outlined how it plans on addressing these recommendations, such as improving criminal intelligence collection and sharing, increasing policing resources, engagement with other police jurisdictions and the coordination of policing responses.

4. Winter 2023: Government Response to the 12th Interim Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples Entitled “On the Outside Looking In: The Implementation of the Cannabis Act and Its Effects on Indigenous Peoples”

The Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples (APPA), which was authorized by the Senate on March 3, 2022 to examine the federal government’s constitutional, treaty, political and legal responsibilities to First Nations, Inuit and Métis and any other subject concerning Indigenous peoples, tabled an interim report entitled On the Outside Looking In: The Implementation of the Cannabis Act and its effects on Indigenous Peoples (the Report). The Report presented 13 recommendations organized under five themes: (1) Consultation; (2) Authority to Regulate, Operate and Enforce Cannabis Laws on Reserve; (3) Enforcement; (4) First Nations Participation in the Cannabis Market; and (5) Public Health (including Health Data and Cannabis Use). Recommendations 4, 5 and 6 (under Theme 3) directly implicated the RCMP:

• Recommendation 4 regarding the establishment of legislative mechanisms for the enforcement of band by-laws and other laws related to cannabis.
• Recommendation 5 regarding adequate funding for Indigenous communities for the policing and enforcement of band by-laws related to cannabis.
• Recommendation 6 regarding a dedicated space for First Nations police services to undertake Drug Recognition Expert Training

The Cannabis Act was further reviewed in early 2024 by an Expert Panel. The panel’s findings, including their recommendations on how to improve the Cannabis Act, were provided in a Final Report which was tabled in both Houses of Parliament in March 2024.

5. Mass Casualty Commission (MCC)

On April 18 and 19, 2020, the lives of 22 people were taken and three others were injured in several communities across Nova Scotia. The Mass Casualty Commission was struck to examine the incident, and make meaningful recommendations to make communities safer in the future. Its Final Report outlined 130 recommendations, of which, 33 under the direct control of the RCMP, and another 55 where the RCMP is contributing to the work. These recommendations call for significant changes to how Canadians approach community safety and policing across the country. Efforts to address these recommendations have been made in the areas of critical incident management, advice of the Management Advisory Board, improving RCMP policies, improving recruitment, responding to gender-based and intimate partner violence, and focusing on the wellness of RCMP personnel and of victims.

1. 2024 – Reports of the Auditor General of Canada: Report 3 - First Nations and Inuit Policing Program

In January 2024, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) released its report containing recommendations for Public Safety and the RCMP on the First Nation Inuit Policing Program (FNIPP). The audit sought to determine if Public Safety and the RCMP worked in partnership with Indigenous communities to provide equitable access to police services and whether tailored police services were provided to supplement the Provincial and Territorial police service agreements. There were four (4) recommendations for the RCMP:

• Recommendation 3.58, regarding Public Safety Canada and the RCMP working with First Nations, Inuit communities, and provinces/territories to determine resources before new agreements.
• Recommendation 3.59, regarding the creation of a plan to address staffing shortages in community positions and consult with communities to understand their needs.
• Recommendation 3.61, regarding the RCMP ensuring officers learn about community culture and traditions and monitor their participation.
• Recommendation 3.70, regarding the RCMP and Public Safety Canada ensuring the First Nations and Inuit Policing Program meets its goals by:
  • Providing clear guidance to detachments
  • Monitoring compliance with agreements
  • Establishing performance indicators with community input
  • Adjusting the program based on data

In March 2024, the Government of Canada responded to the OAG report on FNIPP, acknowledging the work of the OAG and welcoming its recommendations. The RCMP restated its commitment to its role in keeping Indigenous communities safe by providing dedicated and responsive service to First Nation and Inuit communities under the FNIPP.