ARCHIVED - Report on Plans and Priorities - 2013-14

Raison d'être

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Public Complaints Commission is an independent agency created by Parliament and is not part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The Commission's fundamental role is to provide civilian review of the conduct of the RCMP members in carrying out their policing duties, thereby holding the RCMP accountable to the public. The Commission ensures that complaints about the conduct of RCMP members are examined fairly and impartially. Its findings and recommendations help identify and remedy policing problems which stem from the conduct of individual RCMP members or from deficiencies in RCMP policies or practices. The Commission has the authority to make findings and recommendations, but cannot impose discipline or make monetary awards to complainants.

Vision

Excellence in policing through accountability.

Mission

To provide civilian review of RCMP members' conduct in performing their policing duties so as to hold the RCMP accountable to the public.

Responsibilities

The mandate of the CPC is set out in Part VII of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act (RCMP Act) and can be summarized as follows:

• to receive complaints from the public about the conduct of RCMP members;
• to conduct reviews when complainants are not satisfied with the RCMP's handling of their complaints;
• to initiate complaints and investigations into RCMP conduct when it is in the public interest to do so;
• to hold hearings; and
• to report findings and make recommendations.

Strategic Outcome and Program Alignment Architecture

To effectively pursue its mandate, the CPC aims to achieve the following strategic outcome:

The following graphic outlines the CPC's Program Alignment Architecture and the priorities it has set for 2013–14.

CPC's Program Alignment Architecture

Text Version

CPC's Program Alignment Architecture

Priorities for 2013-14:

• Strengthen the complaint and review processes.
• Facilitate the creation of a new review mechanism for the RCMP.
• Improve the relevance of review recommendations and identify complaint trends.
• Consolidate outreach and public education efforts.

Program

• Civilian review of RCMP members' conduct in the performance of their duties.

Strategic Outcome

• RCMP members are held publicly accountable for their conduct in the performance of their duties.

Organizational Priorities

Risk Analysis

In order to foster an organizational culture that supports risk-informed decision-making, focuses on results, and enables the consideration of both opportunity and innovation, the CPC, as part of its annual planning process, conducts a risk assessment and identifies appropriate actions to mitigate any identified risks. In setting out its plans for 2013–14, the CPC identified the following key risks and mitigation strategies.

Funding Pressures

There is a risk that the CPC, if the transition to a new mandate with additional funding is delayed, will face a gap in funding. Funding is needed under the current mandate to continue critical work in the areas of outreach, strategic policy and research, as well as to meet any surge in complaints, reviews or special investigations.  The CPC will work closely with Public Safety Canada to closely monitor its funding level and obtain bridge funding if it is needed.

RCMP Implementation of CPC's Recommendations

As the CPC's recommendations to the RCMP are not binding, sometimes key recommendations are not implemented.  To monitor this, the CPC continues to systematically track recommendations made to the RCMP and maintains an "Outstanding RCMP Policy Commitments" section on its website. 

Responding to Major Policing Events

The CPC's mandate requires it to respond to serious incidents between the RCMP and the public. The unpredictable frequency and magnitude of such events can create financial and human resource pressures which impact workloads and services standards. The CPC continues to track its workload and, where required, uses established supply arrangements for specialized investigators and reallocates staff in order to maintain the capacity to undertake important high-profile investigations. 

Planning Summary

Expenditure Profile

Departmental Spending Trend

Text Version

Spending Trend

Fiscal year	$ thousands
2009-10	7,549
2010-11	7,464
2011-12	7,881
2012-13	8,035
2013-14	5,425
2014-15	5,439
2015-16	5,439

Estimates by Vote

For information on our organizational appropriations, please see the 2013–14 Main Estimates publication.^{Footnote 1}

Strategic Outcome

Program: Civilian review of RCMP members' conduct in the performance of their duties

Program Description

The Commission conducts reviews of complaints received from the public about the conduct of RCMP members in the performance of their duties. When complainants are not satisfied with the RCMP's handling of their complaints, they can request a review of their case by the Commission. In reviewing these complaints, the Commission may conduct hearings and investigations, and reports on its findings and makes recommendations to the RCMP Commissioner and Minister of Public Safety.

Planning Highlights

To achieve the expected result, the CPC has set the following priorities and plans to undertake the following activities:

1. Strengthen the complaint and review process

The CPC will endeavour, in the face of continued increased workload levels, to meet its service standards and enhance efficiencies within the complaint and review process. Where needed, it will initiate and continue public interest investigations in relation to high-profile incidents, such as the one examining the conduct of RCMP members in handling allegations of harassment within the workplace. It will continue to track actions taken by the RCMP on key recommendations. It plans to implement a new Case Management System in order to capture all relevant information into one database. As well, the CPC will continue to collaborate more closely with the provinces, territories, RCMP and stakeholders regarding common interests.

2. Facilitate the creation of a new review mechanism for the RCMP

New legislation and an enhanced mandate will increase the new RCMP review body's ability to examine systemic issues, allow more rigorous and expansive access to documents, and recognize the importance of service standards in ensuring timely and effective review. The CPC continues to support the government's efforts to implement these legislative changes. The CPC is uniquely positioned to bring the public's perspective to critical policing issues. The stronger and more credible the independent oversight and review of the RCMP is, the more credible the Force will be. The CPC will continue to provide advice to the government on the creation of a new independent review and complaints commission for the RCMP.  The CPC will restructure its business model to ensure the most cost effective delivery of current and new services. 

3. Improve the relevance of review recommendations and identify complaint trends

The CPC will undertake research projects designed to understand the nature of and trends within public complaints and police/public interactions. It will make recommendations for changes in national policing policy, training and behaviours based on identified trends in policing. The CPC will continue to foster greater collaboration among domestic and international police review bodies, governments, academics and stakeholders. 

4. Consolidate outreach and public education efforts

The CPC will continue to build on its outreach capability and educational efforts.  Engagement with key stakeholder groups, such as Legal Aid organizations, court workers, provincial oversight bodies and Aboriginal groups, is vital to helping increase awareness of an individual's ability to initiate a complaint against the conduct of an RCMP member. Liaison with the RCMP and other policing stakeholders will be enhanced. 

Benefits for Canadians

Safe and secure neighbourhoods are a defining characteristic of the Canadian way of life, and Canadians are rightly proud of that tradition of community safety and security. The CPC provides civilian oversight of RCMP members' conduct in performing their policing duties so as to hold the RCMP accountable to the public. The Commission's work is an essential component of the government's commitment to strengthen the security of Canadians, who must have confidence in their national police force. The CPC's oversight ensures that this confidence, faith and trust is well-placed.

Program: Internal Services

Program Description

Internal Services are 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: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not those provided specifically to a program.  

Financial Highlights

Future-Oriented Financial Statements

The CPC's Future-Oriented Financial Statement can be found on the CPC's website at: Corporate Reports

List of Supplementary Information Tables

All electronic supplementary information tables listed in the 2013–14 Reports on Plans and Priorities can be found on the CPC's website.

Tax Expenditures and Evaluations Report

The tax system can be used to achieve public policy objectives through the application of special measures such as low tax rates, exemptions, deductions, deferrals and credits.  The Department of Finance publishes cost estimates and projections for these measures annually in the Tax Expenditures and Evaluations^{Footnote 2} publication. The tax measures presented in the Tax Expenditures and Evaluations publication are the sole responsibility of the Minister of Finance.

Organizational Contact Information

Further Information and Website:

You can find the CPC on the Internet.

To contact us by e-mail:

Complaints: complaints@cpc-cpp.gc.ca
Reviews: reviews@cpc-cpp.gc.ca
General inquiries: org@cpc-cpp.gc.ca

Telephone:

From anywhere in Canada: 1-800-665-6878

TTY: 1-866-432-5837