2009:02 ENSURING RCMP ACCOUNTABILITY IN CASES OF NATIONAL SECURITY COMPLAINTS
Whereas 1 after the terrorist attacks of 2001 in the United States, the Parliament of Canada defined terrorism and support of terrorism as criminal acts under the Criminal Code, thus reinstituting some responsibility for national security to the RCMP; and
Whereas 2 at least as early as 2005, there were concerns that the RCMP might be abusing its new powers in the national security area and these concerns were reinforced by the findings of Justice O’Connor’s federally commissioned report on the Maher Arar case; and
Whereas 3 there have been serious allegations made that, in addition to Maher Arar, there have been other men detained illegally overseas; and
Whereas 4 it has been suggested that the civilian oversight of the RCMP’s national security functions might be examined to determine whether to:
a. strengthen the role of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP by restructuring it and renaming it the Independent Complaints and National Security Review Agency for the RCMP (ICRA) or
b. establish a new review mechanism for the RCMP or
c. leave the existing review mechanism for the RCMP unchanged; therefore be it
Resolved 1 that the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy that there be independent oversight for the national security role of the RCMP; and be it further
Resolved 2 that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to review the recommendations of the second O’Connor Report and alternative proposals, such as those formulated by the Political and Social Affairs Division of the Library of Parliament, Information and Research Services, and implement without delay an independent and effective complaints and national security review function of the actions of the RCMP.