National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ Special Report on the Federal Policing Mandate of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Tabled in Parliament
November 7, 2023
Ottawa, November 7, 2023 — The National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians’ (NSICOP) Special Report on the Federal Policing Mandate of the RCMP was tabled in Parliament on November 7, 2023.
The report provides an overview of the RCMP's national security and intelligence activities found in its Federal Policing mandate. It examines the Federal Policing mandate’s programs, activities, structures, authorities and accountabilities. The report also examines the capabilities and results of the mandate’s programs and activities and how the RCMP prioritizes and conducts federal criminal investigations in areas of national security, complex crimes and major organized crime. Finally, the report highlights the role played by key domestic and international partnerships.
The unanimous report includes seven findings and five recommendations.
The Honourable David McGuinty, Chair of NSICOP, stated that: “This is the first external independent review of the RCMP's Federal Policing mandate. The Committee believes that its recommendations will strengthen Federal Policing’s ability to fulfill its mandate, provide greater clarity about the role that Federal Policing plays across Canada, and improve ministerial accountability. Ultimately, the government must ensure that Federal Policing continues to play its essential role in Canada’s security and intelligence community in the face of unprecedented changes in Canada and around the world.”
The classified version of the report was delivered to the Prime Minister on August 14, 2023.
The report is available on the NSICOP website at: https://nsicop-cpsnr.ca/reports/rp-2023-11-fp/intro-en.html
Background:
NSICOP was established under the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act on June 22, 2017. It may review:
- the legislative, regulatory, policy, administrative and financial framework for national security and intelligence;
- any activity carried out by a department that relates to national security or intelligence, unless the activity is an ongoing operation and the appropriate Minister determines that the review would be injurious to national security; and,
- any matter relating to national security or intelligence that a minister of the Crown refers to the Committee.
NSICOP members hold the highest level of security clearance, are bound by the Security of Information Act and meet in private.