Ottawa, Ontario
On October 31, 2024, Bill C-20, An Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission, was granted Royal Assent. The activities of Canada's law enforcement agencies will now be subject to greater accountability and transparency.
The passage of this bill represents a major milestone in the realm of civilian law enforcement review in Canada. It will create the first-ever independent complaints and review body for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), in addition to enhancing the existing review mechanism for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The establishment of the new Public Complaints and Review Commission (PCRC) will increase public trust in our law enforcement institutions by providing an avenue for the public to submit complaints, should they have concerns about the conduct of an RCMP or CBSA officer, or the level of service they provided. Further, the PCRC will have the ability to conduct systemic reviews of the activities of the RCMP and the CBSA.
The PCRC Act will be the first federal statute to require the collection, analysis and reporting of demographic and race-based data on complainants, an important step that will contribute to identifying systemic issues within our law enforcement and develop better-informed solutions to combat them.
The new legislation will also enact mechanisms for additional accountability and transparency, such as a more robust reporting framework around review processes and mandatory timelines for RCMP and CBSA responses to PCRC reports, reviews and recommendations.
Bill C-20 is the result of extensive consultations and engagement with various stakeholders, including experts, academics, civil rights organizations, and vulnerable communities. It reflects the many voices that have raised concerns around systemic issues within our law enforcement institutions and have called for increased transparency and accountability.
Public confidence in the RCMP and CBSA is crucial to the health of our democracy. This independent body will ensure Canadians values, rights and freedoms are being upheld.
