Latest news with #MilitaryPoliceComplaintsCommission
Ottawa Citizen
4 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Canadian military police leaders refuse civilian oversight mandated by Parliament, watchdog report says
A new report paints Canada's military police leadership as shutting down complaints, ignoring parliamentary-mandated civilian oversight and bungling investigations to the point where a criminal convicted of attempted murder almost went free. Article content The report by the Military Police Complaints Commission, a civilian watchdog created by Parliament, outlines a deteriorating situation in which the office of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal has been resisting independent oversight. 'The situation escalated from resistance to outright refusal to respect the oversight regime mandated by Parliament,' commission chairperson Tammy Tremblay wrote in her annual report released Tuesday. Article content Article content Article content At times the office of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, or CFPM, has shut down complaints into police actions before they could be heard, the MPCC report noted. The CFPM has also refused to provide information needed for the commission to carry out its oversight function and has declined to follow recommendations on improving how it functions, according to the report. Among the recommendations the CFPM refused to accept was a request to remind military police officers of the importance of keeping evidence on file. Article content Article content The report also outlined how a bungled investigation by the CFNIS nearly allowed a person, eventually convicted of attempted murder, to escape justice. Article content In that case, the CFNIS had been brought in to investigate a CFB Edmonton house fire in which a soldier was suspected of trying to kill her children. But the MPCC report pointed out that military police decided not to lay charges despite conclusions by the insurance company and the fire marshal's office that the fire had been deliberately set as well as the discovery of an apparent suicide note from the soldier. Article content Article content The Military Police Complaints Commission reviewed the case and determined there was evidence of a crime that ought to be reinvestigated. The soldier was found guilty in 2023 of trying to kill her three children by setting their house on fire. Article content Article content Canadian Forces Provost Marshal Brig.-Gen. Vanessa Hanrahan provided the Ottawa Citizen with a statement acknowledging 'the criticism toward the Office of the CFPM contained within the MPCC's 2024 Annual Report.' Article content 'Notwithstanding this, the CFPM remains fully committed to, and supportive of the MPCC's mandate,' Hanrahan's statement added. Article content Hanrahan noted that her office carefully considered each request for information from the MPCC, 'providing disclosure not only under legal obligation, but also when it is determined that the information requested is pertinent to the matter being investigated by the MPCC.'
CBC
4 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
Watchdog says military police still resisting civilian oversight
The military police watchdog says resistance to civilian oversight in the Canadian Forces provost marshal's office "worsened" last year. The Military Police Complaints Commission released a report Tuesday accusing the provost marshal's office or CFPM — which commands all military police in Canada — of "shutting down" complaints based on a "dubious" interpretation of the National Defence Act. In its report, the watchdog said the provost marshal's office has been failing to advise complainants of their right to have their cases reviewed by the complaints commission as required by law, and is routinely refusing to respond to complaints made in interference cases. Interference cases come up when a military police member files a complaint alleging that a member of the Canadian Armed Forces or a senior official in the Department of National Defence has attempted to influence an investigation. "These issues not only persisted but have worsened. In 2024, the [provost marshal] interpreted the National Defence Act in a way that avoids civilian independent oversight. The situation escalated from resistance to outright refusal to respect the oversight regime mandated by Parliament," the report said. It says the provost marshal is "shutting down complaints" and "hindering the civilian oversight of the military police." Tammy Tremblay, Military Police Complaints Commission chair, declined an interview request. Office says recommendations 'considered carefully' Lt.-Cmdr. Melanie Aqiqi, public affairs officer at the provost marshal's office, said that they "acknowledge the criticism" in the watchdog report and remain "fully committed" to the commission's mandate. "The CFPM acknowledges that the interpretation of this legislative framework is at times different than that of the [commission]. Most notably, as it relates to the disclosure of information," Aqiqi said in an emailed response. "All recommendations from the MPCC are considered carefully with a view to determining their merit, practicality and effectiveness to bring positive changes." The report accuses the provost marshal's office of "terminating" complaints without an investigation when a criminal probe is launched. The report said complaints are supposed to be paused pending the completion of a criminal investigation and any judicial proceedings. However, the report said that this year the provost marshal's office began to "simply terminate" some complaints without investigating them. Aqiqi denied this claim. "Regarding ongoing criminal proceedings, this is never used as a tool to avoid complaint investigations. In some instances, a criminal investigation may be a more appropriate manner to address a complaint received under the act," she said. "Should this be the case, the military police require criminal proceedings to be concluded prior to proceeding." Report calls for further reform The report calls for National Defence Act reform to ensure the commission has the ability to access "information necessary to investigate complaints." "Without this legislative reform, there is a risk that the barriers the MPCC faces in exercising its mandate continue to dilute the will of Parliament in establishing an oversight system for the military police," the report said. The report also says that individual members of the military police "respect and understand" the watchdog's mandate and the problem of "refusal of civilian oversight" stems from senior leadership. Aqiqi said that the provost marshal's office remains committed to a "fair, transparent and independent process" to address public complaints.
CTV News
7 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Watchdog says military police still resisting civilian oversight
The National Defence building is seen in Ottawa on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld) OTTAWA — The Military Police Complaints Commission says resistance to civilian oversight in the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal's office 'worsened' last year. The Military Police Complaints Commission released a report Tuesday accusing the provost's office -- which commands all military police in Canada -- of 'shutting down' complaints based on a 'dubious' interpretation of the National Defence Act. In its report, the watchdog said the provost's office has been failing to advise complainants of their right to have their cases reviewed by the complaints commission as required by law, and is routinely refusing to respond to complaints made in interference cases. Interference cases come up when a military police member files a complaint alleging that a member of the Canadian Armed Forces or a senior official in the Department of National Defence has attempted to influence an investigation. 'These issues not only persisted but have worsened. In 2024, the (Canadian Forces Provost Marshal) interpreted the National Defence Act in a way that avoids civilian independent oversight. The situation escalated from resistance to outright refusal to respect the oversight regime mandated by Parliament,' the watchdog's report said. 'This includes shutting down complaints without having the authority based on dubious interpretations of the National Defence Act as detailed in this report. These roadblocks are hindering the civilian oversight of the military police.' Tammy Tremblay, Military Police Complaints Commission chair, declined an interview request. The report calls for law reform to ensure the commission has the ability to access 'information necessary to investigate complaints.' 'Without this legislative reform, there is a risk that the barriers the MPCC faces in exercising its mandate continue to dilute the will of Parliament in establishing an oversight system for the military police,' the report said. The report also says that individual members of the military police 'respect and understand' the watchdog's mandate and the problem of 'refusal of civilian oversight' stems from senior leadership. Brig.-Gen. Vanessa Hanrahan took over command of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal's office in December, replacing Maj.-Gen. Simon Trudeau, who had held the position for the previous six and a half years. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025. David Baxter, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Military police watchdog says military police still resisting civilian oversight
OTTAWA – The Military Police Complaints Commission says resistance to civilian oversight in the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal's office 'worsened' last year. The military police watchdog released a report today saying the provost's office — which commands all military police in Canada — has been 'shutting down' complaints based on a 'dubious' interpretation of the National Defence Act. The watchdog says the provost's office is failing to advise complainants of their right to have their cases reviewed by the complaints commission. The watchdog says this is against the law and 'undermines' a complainant's ability to access justice. The report says these problems, which were raised in the 2023 report, have degraded to the point of 'outright refusal' by the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal's office to 'respect the oversight regime mandated by Parliament.' Brig.-Gen. Vanessa Hanrahan took over command of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal's office in December, replacing Maj.-Gen. Simon Trudeau, who had held the position for the previous six and a half years. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025.
Global News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Global News
Canada's military police still resisting civilian oversight, watchdog says
The Military Police Complaints Commission says resistance to civilian oversight in the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal's office 'worsened' last year. The military police watchdog released a report today saying the provost's office — which commands all military police in Canada — has been 'shutting down' complaints based on a 'dubious' interpretation of the National Defence Act. The watchdog says the provost's office is failing to advise complainants of their right to have their cases reviewed by the complaints commission. 1:20 Canada has 'work to do' beyond defence policy update to meet military needs: Bill Blair The watchdog says this is against the law and 'undermines' a complainant's ability to access justice. Story continues below advertisement The report says these problems, which were raised in the 2023 report, have degraded to the point of 'outright refusal' by the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal's office to 'respect the oversight regime mandated by Parliament.' Brig.-Gen. Vanessa Hanrahan took over command of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal's office in December, replacing Maj.-Gen. Simon Trudeau, who had held the position for the previous six and a half years.
