Response to parliamentary committees and external audits

Response to parliamentary committees

Winter 2018, Government Response to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Interim Report, entitled: "Our Women and Girls are Sacred" – (Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs)

Released in November 2017, the Interim Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls is the story of the many family members, friends, and grassroots citizens who are calling for an end to the violence being perpetrated against Indigenous women and girls. The report acknowledges where we've come from and where we're going. The National Inquiry team has taken the truths of families and survivors and considered previous reports to present a summary of 17 overarching themes related to the root causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls, and what overall measures are required to stop it. Many of the themes identified have implications for the RCMP.

The Government response outlines some of the actions the Government is taking in response to the Interim Report. This includes increases to heath supports and victim services, the establishment of a commemoration fund, a review of police policies and practices, and support for the new National Investigative Standards and Practices Unit at the RCMP.

Spring 2018, Government Response to the Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women, entitled: "A Call to Action: Reconciliation with Indigenous Women in the Federal Justice and Correctional Systems" – (Justice Canada, Correctional Service of Canada)

In June 2018, the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women released its 13th report, entitled: "A Call to Action: Reconciliation with Indigenous Women in the Federal Justice and Correctional Systems". The report provided an overview of Indigenous women's experiences in the federal justice and correctional systems; suggestions of policy changes to prevent Indigenous women's interactions with the criminal justice system and incarceration; an examination of Indigenous women's access to and treatment in the federal justice system; an examination of Indigenous women in the federal correctional system; and 96 recommendations on how the Government can help improve Indigenous women's access to and treatment in the federal justice system as well as their treatment in the federal correctional system.

The Government response indicated broad support for the objectives of the Report's 96 recommendations, three of which pertained directly to the RCMP. The response provided details on the RCMP's Bias-Free Policing model, sexual assault training, efforts to implement Third Party Reporting (TPR) on a national level as a means to facilitate sexual assault reports and disclosures to police, and the ongoing work of the Sexual Assault Review Team. It also noted efforts made to increase Indigenous and Métis representation at the Force and to improve training of existing members on Indigenous issues, history, and concerns.

Fall 2018, Government Response to the Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, entitled: "M-124, Automated External Defibrillators" – (Royal Canadian Mounted Police)

In October 2018, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security released its 26th report, entitled: "M-124, Automated External Defibrillators". The report followed the Committee's study of the availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in first responder vehicles in Canada. While the report did not include any recommendations, it did put forward three considerations related to the types of AEDs appropriate for use in Canada given the interjurisdictional nature of law enforcement and emergency response, the Canadian climate, and the cost.

The Government response noted a commitment to considering the Committee's report in future purchasing of AEDs to the extent possible.

Winter 2018, Government Response to the Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, entitled: "Confronting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing: Moving Canada Forward" – (Department of Finance)

In November 2018, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance tabled its 24th report, entitled: "Confronting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing: Moving Canada Forward". Pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA), a review must be conducted by a committee of the House of Commons, of the Senate or of both Houses every five years. The report is a result of that review and examines the regime's legislative and regulatory gaps, the exchange of information and the privacy of Canadians, ways of strengthening intelligence capacity and enforcement measures, as well as the modernization of the regime. The report made 32 recommendations, none of which directly pertained to the RCMP.

The Government response recognized the complexity of the anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regime and responded to the Committee's report by chapter. The response included a clarification of the requirements pertaining to when the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) can share information with the RCMP, including Suspicious Transaction Reports, in order to maintain a careful balance between privacy rights and anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing objectives.

Winter 2018, Government Response to the Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, entitled: "Moving Forward in the Fight against Human Trafficking in Canada" – (Public Safety Canada, Justice Canada)

In December 2018, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights released its 24th report, entitled: "Moving Forward in the Fight against Human Trafficking in Canada". The report made 17 recommendations aimed at strengthening Canada's actions toward eradicating human trafficking in Canada. It included recommendations in the areas of awareness raising and education, protection and support for victims, collaboration between federal partners, and engagement with key stakeholders outside government. Three of the report's recommendations on training, collaboration, and information sharing pertained to law enforcement.

The Government response highlighted domestic and international efforts across Government that address human trafficking, including efforts by Public Safety Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canada Border Services Agency, Employment and Social Development Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Justice Canada, and Global Affairs Canada. It also noted that because human trafficking is a complex issue related to factors such as migration, economic and social exclusion, human rights violations, and gender-based violence, the Government of Canada also collaborates with provinces and territories, civil society organizations, the private sector, and other key domestic and international stakeholders.

Winter 2019, Government Response to the Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts, entitled: "Report 2, Disposing of Government Surplus Goods and Equipment, of the 2018 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada" – (Public Services and Procurement Canada)

In February 2019, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts released its 58th report, entitled: "Report 2, Disposing of Government Surplus Goods and Equipment, of the 2018 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada". The report was the result of the Committee's study of the Auditor General's performance audit of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and Shared Services Canada (SSC), in terms of whether they disposed of surplus goods and equipment at the appropriate time in a manner that maximized benefits. It found that departments had opportunities to dispose of assets in a manner that better maximized benefits, specifically by either reusing or donating surplus assets as opposed to selling assets. The Committee's report on the audit concurred with its findings and made four recommendations, three of which pertain to the RCMP.

The Government response to the Committee's report agreed with all four recommendations and provided information on work underway by PSPC, RCMP, SSC, and CRA to strengthen and enhance processes for donation and transfer of goods, as well as documentation of disposal decisions. It also highlighted steps being taken by PSPC to put in place and enhance existing government-wide programs to promote and encourage departments to donate or transfer assets.

Spring 2019, Government Response to the Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, entitled: "Question of Privilege Related to the Matter of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Publications Respecting Bill C-71, An Act to Amend Certain Acts and Regulations in Relation to Firearms" – (Treasury Board Secretariat)

In March 2019, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs released its 88th report, entitled: "Question of Privilege Related to the Matter of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Publications Respecting Bill C-71, An Act to Amend Certain Acts and Regulations in Relation to Firearms". The RCMP was found in Contempt of Parliament as it anticipated a decision of Parliament and offended the authority of the House by proactively posting information on its website related to Bill C-71, which had not yet been passed or brought into force. This proactive posting of information was intended to give Canadians a reasonable opportunity to take action, given the short timelines; however, the information did not clearly state that the Bill was still before Parliament. The report contained one recommendation: that federal government departments and agencies consider indicating the status of the legislation (i.e., the legislative stage of the bill at the time the communications product is made public) for communications products dealing with legislation before Parliament.

The Government response agreed with the recommendation. It provided an outline of the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity (Policy) and indicated that the Government will take steps to remind federal departments and agencies of their obligations under the Policy.

Response to audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (including audits conducted by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)

May 2018: Report 1 – Building and Implementing the Phoenix Pay System

The audit assessed whether Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) effectively and efficiently managed and oversaw the implementation of the new Phoenix pay system. The Office of the Auditor General of Canada wanted to know whether the decision to implement Phoenix was reasonable and considered selected aspects of standard management practices for system development. The audit examined whether the system was fully tested, would deliver the functions needed to pay federal employees, was secure, and would protect employees' private information. The audit also examined whether PSPC adequately supported selected departments and agencies in their move to Phoenix.

The RCMP was one of nine federal departments and agencies included in the audit.

There were no recommendations for the RCMP.

May 2018: Report 2 – Disposing of Government Surplus Goods and Equipment

The audit focused on whether selected federal organizations (CRA, PSPC, RCMP, and SSC) disposed of surplus goods and equipment at the appropriate time in a manner that maximized benefits. These benefits include selling assets for the best possible return, reusing or refurbishing assets that were still in good condition, donating assets to organizations that could benefit from them, and disposing of assets in an environmentally sustainable way.

The RCMP Action Plan will address audit recommendations.

Response to audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages

Public Service Commission Audit of System-Wide Staffing (December 2018)

The audit was conducted: to determine compliance with respect to organizational staffing system requirements; to determine compliance with respect to requirements during the appointment process and for appointments; and to gauge stakeholder awareness and understanding of requirements, and of their roles and responsibilities.

There were no recommendations for the RCMP.

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