RCMP Complaints Commission to launch public interest investigation into G8/G20 summits

The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC) has launched a public interest investigation into specific aspects of the 2010 G8 and G20 summits.

The Commission is acting on a complaint lodged by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) which makes a number of allegations about the conduct of unidentified RCMP members.

The complaint relates to the following four issues and incidents and the degree to which RCMP members were involved:

1. G8/G20 planning (including the location of the security fences);
2. Infiltration and surveillance (if any) of individuals or groups before and during the summits;
3. Use of force, detentions and arrests during the summits; and
4. Conditions at the Eastern Avenue detention facilities in Toronto.

Since the summits, the RCMP has proactively provided the Complaints Commission with operational details and briefings on RCMP activities during the G8/G20 policing and security operation in order to provide the CPC with a fulsome picture of this complex operation. The CPC looks forward to the RCMP's continuing cooperation.

The CPC has worked in close liaison with Ontario's Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) since several months prior to the G8/G20 summits to ensure that the respective provincial and federal police complaints mechanisms worked seamlessly and that the public had a "no wrong door" means of making complaints through either office. The CPC Interim Chair, Ian McPhail, Q.C., and Ontario's Independent Police Review Director, Gerry McNeilly, have agreed that the CPC will continue to liaise to the extent possible with OIPRD during the G20 police complaint reviews to ensure that all police involved in the security operations are held fully accountable for any improper or unlawful actions—if any.

To date, 28 complaints have been received regarding the RCMP's role in the summits. By instituting a public interest investigation into CCLA's complaint, the Commission will appoint its own independent civilian investigative team and will publicly report its findings and recommendations.

The CPC is distinct and independent from the RCMP and has jurisdiction over public complaints regarding all members of the RCMP.

For more information, please contact:

Kate McDerby
613-952-3729
Kate.mcderby@cpc-cpp.gc.ca