Update on the status of C-IRG-related public complaints and reviews (as of March 1, 2026)

Public Complaints about the RCMP "E" Division Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG)Footnote *

Between 2019 and 2022, the CRCC received 572 public complaints related to the RCMP's enforcement of civil injunctions in British Columbia associated with:

  • Coastal GasLink pipeline project on Wet'suwet'en Traditional Territory
  • Teal Cedar Products Limited logging operation in the Fairy Creek Watershed
  • Cooper Creek Cedar Limited logging operation in Argenta-Johnson's Landing

Breakdown of Public Complaints Received

Table 1: Number of public complaints related to the RCMP's enforcement operations at the three sites.
  Wet'suwet'en Traditional Territory Fairy Creek Watershed Argenta-Johnson's Landing Total

Public Complaints Received

300

268

4

572

Public Complaints Accepted

5

116

2

123

Public Complaints Refused

295

152

2

449

While the CRCC received 572 public complaints, 123 met the complaint criteria laid out in section 45.53 of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act. Of note, most of the refused complaints were from individuals who were not physically present at the three sites.

For more information regarding the CRCC's complaint intake process, and the reasons a complaint may be refused, please consult our Complaint and Review Process page.

Table 2: Status of public complaint investigations as of March 1, 2026.
  Wet'suwet'en Traditional Territory Fairy Creek Watershed Argenta-Johnson's Landing

Public Complaints Accepted

5

116

2

Public Complaints Concluded

5

116

2

Public Complaints Investigations in Progress

0

0

0

For more information on how the CRCC handles public complaints and the public complaint investigation process, please consult our Complaint and Review Process Flowchart.

Allegation Outcomes and Disposition Types

Complaints can be resolved as follows:

  • investigated by the RCMP
  • terminated by the RCMP
  • withdrawn by the complainant
  • informally resolved
Table 3(a): Breakdown of allegation outcomes for concluded complaints related to the three sites.
Disposition Type Wet'suwet'en Traditional Territory Fairy Creek Watershed Argenta-Johnson's Landing

Investigated by the RCMP

22

604

6

Terminated by the RCMP

1

80

1

Withdrawn by the complainant

12

2

0

Informally resolved

0

0

4

TOTAL

35

686

11

Notes:

  • In a formal investigation, the RCMP investigates the public complaint and provides the individual with a final report.
  • A public complaint may contain multiple allegations, each of which has its own outcome. As such, totals from the allegation outcomes may be higher than the total number of concluded complaints.
Table 3(b): Breakdown of investigated allegations supported or unsupported by the RCMP.
Wet'suwet'en Traditional Territory Fairy Creek Watershed Argenta-Johnson's Landing

Allegations Investigated by the RCMP

22

604

6

Supported allegations

0

54

0

Unsupported allegations

22

550

6

Table 4: Average number of business days it took the RCMP to conclude a public complaint, broken down by disposition type. The RCMP's internal service standard to conclude a public complaint is 120 days.
Disposition Type Wet'suwet'en Traditional Territory Fairy Creek Watershed Argenta-Johnson's Landing

Investigated by the RCMP

266

480

280

Terminated by the RCMP

167

482

280

Withdrawn by the complainant

48

59

N/A

Informally resolved

N/A

N/A

370

Table 5: Top five allegation categories for complaints related to the RCMP's enforcement at the three sites, in descending order.
  Wet'suwet'en Traditional Territory Fairy Creek Watershed Argenta-Johnson's Landing

1

Neglect of Duty

Neglect of Duty

Neglect of Duty

2

Oppressive Conduct

Improper Use of Force

Improper Arrest

3

Improper Attitude

Policy

Improper Attitude / Oppressive Conduct

4

Improper Use of Force/ Irregularity in Procedure

Improper Attitude

N/A

5

Mishandling of Property

Improper Arrest

N/A

For more information about the allegations categories, please consult our Complaint Allegation Types page.

CRCC Reviews

Following the RCMP's investigation of a public complaint, if the person is not satisfied with how the RCMP concluded their complaint, the legislation allows them to refer their complaint to the CRCC for review

Table 6: Number of requests for review that the CRCC received in relation to the three sites.
  Wet'suwet'en Traditional Territory Fairy Creek Watershed Argenta-Johnson's Landing

Review Requests Received by the CRCC

1

16

0

Reviews Completed by the CRCC

1

3

0

Fewer reports were completed due to the Chairperson's position being vacant as of January 1, 2025. The authority to issue Satisfied, Interim and Final Reports rests with the Chairperson. In the absence of any other CRCC members, reports cannot be issued due to the lack of a decision-maker.

For more information regarding the CRCC's review process, please consult our Complaint and Review Process page.

Table 7: Number of recommendations made by the CRCC in relation to completed review files as of March 1, 2026.
  # of Recommendations Proportion

Total Recommendations

15

N/A

Recommendations Supported by the RCMP

8

53%

Not Supported by the RCMP

3

20%

Partially Supported by the RCMP

4

27%

Summaries regarding the outcome of the reviewed complaints may be found in our Summaries of Reviewed Public Complaints page.

Note: The CRCC's systemic investigation does not replace the public complaint and review processes. These processes are separate, though findings and outcomes from one process may inform the other.

For more information about the intersection between the systemic investigation and public complaints process, please see the C-IRG Quick Facts page.

Please consult the Complaint and Review Process page for more information.