January 30, 2020
The Government of Canada re-introduced in the House of Commons a bill to create an independent commission to review and investigate complaints about the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The Bill, first introduced in May of 2019, had been approved in the House but failed to get approval in the Senate before the calling of the October elections.
Currently, complaints about conduct and the service provided by CBSA officers are handled internally. If an individual is dissatisfied with the results of an internal CBSA investigation, there is currently no mechanism for the public to request an independent review of these complaints.
The Bill proposes to create the Public Complaints and Review Commission (PCRC). This body would incorporate and build upon the existing Civilian Review and Complaints Commission, which is currently the review agency for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The new PCRC would handle reviews and complaints for both the CBSA and the RCMP.
Complaints from the public about the conduct of CBSA officers and the quality of services provided would be addressed to the new PCRC. It would also have the ability to review, on its own initiative or at the request of the Minister, any non-national security activities of the CBSA.