Michelaine Lahaie, Chairperson
Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP
P.O. Box 1722, Station B
Ottawa, ON K1P 0B3
Fax: 613-952-8045

July 24, 2023

Dear Ms. Lahaie,

Re: Systemic Investigation of the RCMP “E” Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG)

The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (“BCCLA”) welcomes the Chairperson’s invitation to submit additional complaints in support of its systemic investigation of the RCMP “E” C-IRG. While we are aware that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act requires complaints be filed within a year of the alleged conduct, we recognize that the Commission has the discretion to extend the time limit for making a complaint if there are good reasons to do so and it is not contrary to the public interest. We are confident that the conduct of the RCMP members that form the basis of our complaint falls within the scope of the terms of reference for the systemic investigation that was announced on March 9, 2023.

Access to justice demands that there must be a way to check the RCMP’s oppressive conduct other than going to court. It is in that spirit that we wish to share the interaction BCCLA Staff Counsel, Veronica Martisius, had with two members of the RCMP C-IRG, officers Brady and A. Blakeman, at an exclusion zone checkpoint within the Fairy Creek/Tree Farm License 46 (“TFL 46”) area on unceded Ditidaht territory. We hope that it will provide valuable insight for the purposes of your investigation.