National

Federal policing watchdog probing B.C. RCMP unit experiencing 'significant delays'

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 24 Nov, 2023 05:18 PM

The federal agency tasked with reviewing complaints against the RCMP says the police force is causing "significant delays" in an investigation of a unit set up to deal with protests of energy and logging industry projects.

In an investigation update this week, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP says it has received "little information or records" since July from the police force's E Division, headquartered in Surrey, B.C.

The commission says it has made progress in its probe of the controversial Community-Industry Response Unit, but says finishing the investigation will be delayed.

It says a recent meeting between the commission and the RCMP outlined "concerns about the delays," and the force has since provided it with more than 400 files, though "significant" information is yet to be provided.

The commission hired a law firm to help in its "systemic investigation" to interview people who interacted with the unit during protests at B.C. logging sites and along the Coastal GasLink pipeline project.

The RCMP E Division did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the delays.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

No charges for Prince George cop

Prosecutors in British Columbia say they won't be charging an RCMP officer in connection with the death of an Indigenous man in Prince George in 2020. A statement from the prosecution service says that although the province's independent watchdog said there were reasonable grounds to believe the officer may have committed an offence, the evidence available isn't enough for charges.

No charges for Prince George cop

Influx of Avian Flu in BC

Farmers in B-C are preparing for an influx of avian flu cases as wild birds begin migrating south. But a spokesperson for the B-C Poultry Association Emergency Operations Centre says he doesn't expect as much devastation as last year.

Influx of Avian Flu in BC

Road closures due to Whalley collision

On Thursday at after 1:30pm Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a semi-truck in the southbound lanes of King George boulevard just north of 104 Avenue. The pedestrian has been transported to hospital with serious injuries. There are single lane closures on both on the northbound and southbound side of King George boulevard between 104 Avenue and 105 Avenue.

Road closures due to Whalley collision

Federal effort to boost child care in three provinces off to 'slow start': report

The report by Cardus looking at the roll out of the programs in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick found that issues ranging from unspent funding to skilled labour shortages led to missed child care targets. The federal government signed separate, five-year funding agreements with provinces and territories in 2021, committing up to $30 billion in five years toward the establishment of $10-a-day child care.

Federal effort to boost child care in three provinces off to 'slow start': report

Pharmacare would cost public sector billions more a year, but save economy money: PBO

The parliamentary budget officer says a single-payer universal drug plan would cost federal and provincial governments an additional$11.2 billion in the first year, and $13.4 billion in five years. The PBO released a report on Thursday that provides an estimate for the cost of a pharmacare program between 2024-25 and 2027-28. It follows up on a previous costing the PBO published in 2017 for a pharmacare plan.

Pharmacare would cost public sector billions more a year, but save economy money: PBO

Supreme Court of Canada refuses to hear Hells Angels appeal of B.C. forfeiture ruling

The Supreme Court of Canada's refusal to hear a Hells Angels challenge of B.C.'s forfeiture of three clubhouses will "put criminals on notice," the province's pubic safety minister says. The high court ended a years-long court battle on Thursday as it refused to hear an appeal of the seizure of the clubhouses in East Vancouver, Nanaimo, and Kelowna.