(Halifax) The chair of the public inquiry into the April 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia expressed concern Wednesday that budget cuts could jeopardize investigations by the watchdog body that handles complaints against the Mounted Police. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Posted at 4:58 p.m.
Michael MacDonald questioned whether the fact that the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP must ensure, in a letter sent to the Minister of Public Safety, that it has enough funds available in its budget to complete an investigation before starting it does not represent a “flagrant affront” to its independence.
The commission has the power to launch its own investigations, but each time it wants to open a file, it must assure the minister that it will be able to do so within its budget. This process was confirmed by the president of the commission, Michelaine Lahaie.
Mr. MacDonald therefore asked Mrs.me Lahaie if it were possible that “reprehensible acts on the part of police officers go unpunished because there is not enough money left in your budget”. “It seems a little worrying to me,” he added.
Mme Lahaie countered that ensuring adequate funding for her organization remains “an issue” that she spoke about before the federal parliamentary committee on national security.
This exchange took place during a panel on the accountability of police officers organized during the public inquiry which seeks to improve the work of the police. On April 18 and 19, 2020, 22 people were killed by a shooter driving a replica police cruiser in Nova Scotia.