Information about Programs and Information Holdings

Introduction to Info Source

Info Source: Sources of Federal Government and Employee Information provides information about the functions, programs, activities and related information holdings of government institutions subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. It provides individuals and employees of the government (current and former) with relevant information to access personal information about themselves held by government institutions subject to the Privacy Act and to exercise their rights under the Privacy Act.

The introduction and an index of institutions subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act are available centrally.

The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act assign overall responsibility to the President of Treasury Board (as the designated Minister) for the government-wide administration of the legislation.

Background

Until November 27, 2014, the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC) existed as the review body for RCMP conduct. It was also known by its official legal title: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Public Complaints Commission. The CPC was established by Parliament in March 1986, as a result of recommendations arising from the 1976 Commission of Inquiry Relating to Public Complaints, Internal Discipline and Grievance Procedure within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Marin Commission) and the 1981 Royal Commission of Inquiry Concerning Certain Activities of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (McDonald Commission). Part VII of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, which made the CPC operational, came into force on September 30, 1988. The CPC was an independent body reporting to Parliament through the Minister of Public Safety Canada.

On November 28, 2014, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (CRCC) replaced the CPC as a result of the coming into force of the Enhancing Royal Canadian Mounted Police Accountability Act (ERCMPAA).The ERCMPAA amended the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act to establish a new Royal Canadian Mounted Police review and complaints body with enhanced powers and duties. As stipulated in the ERCMPAA, the CRCC retained the CPC's existing records and personnel, and assumed responsibility for the CPC's ongoing investigations and operations.

Responsibilities

Like the CPC, the CRCC was established to receive and review complaints about the conduct of regular and civilian RCMP members in the performance of their duties under the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act. As set out in Parts VII, VII.1 and VII.2 of that Act, the mandate of the CRCC is to receive complaints from the public about the conduct of RCMP members; conduct reviews of RCMP conduct and specified RCMP activities; hold hearings and investigations; and report findings and make recommendations. Its mission is to provide civilian review of RCMP members' conduct so as to hold the RCMP accountable to the public.

The CRCC ensures that complaints about the conduct of RCMP members are examined fairly and impartially. Its findings and recommendations help identify, correct and prevent the recurrence of policing problems caused by the conduct of specific RCMP members or by flaws in RCMP policies or practices.

With its enhanced powers, the CRCC is able to identify and review a broad range of RCMP activities with a view to addressing critical concerns of public interest and conduct joint reviews with other law enforcement review bodies.

For more information about the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP, please see the CRCC web site at http://www.crcc-ccetp.gc.ca/.

Internal Services

Internal services constitute 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 to those provided specifically to a program.

Classes Of Personal Information

In the course of conducting the activities of the CRCC, personal information may be accumulated that is not contained in the specific personal information banks described in this entry. This personal information exists in a fragmented form throughout the subject files of the CRCC. Examples of such personal information include routine correspondence of an administrative nature, information requests, complaints and unsolicited applications for employment. This type of information is not normally retrievable by the name of an individual or other personal identifier. It can be located only if specific and sufficient details are provided. The retention period for this information is controlled by the records disposal schedules of the general subject files in which it is stored.

Manuals

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police Public Complaints Commission Rules of Practice

Accessing CRCC Information

The Government of Canada encourages the release of information through requests outside of the Access to Information and Privacy process. You may wish to consult the CRCC's summaries of completed access to information requests. To make an informal request for information, please call 1-800-665-6878.

For information on how to make a formal request under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act, click here.

Reading Room

In accordance with the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, an area on the premises will be made available should you wish to review material in person in Ottawa, Ontario. If you wish to review material on site, please make an advance appointment by calling the Access to Information Coordinator at 613-946-5216.