Regulations for the Administration of the Public Complaints and Review Commission Act
Enabling Act
Public Complaints and Review Commission Act
Description
On October 31, 2024, an Act establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission (PCRC Act) received Royal Assent. The Act creates a dual-purpose independent review body called the Public Complaints and Review Commission (PCRC). The PCRC will replace the existing Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC) for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and extend its mandate to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
The objective of this regulatory initiative is to establish regulations for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act, and under the CBSA Act as amended through the PCRC Act, including carrying over important regulations from the CRCC model and establishing new regulations to provide further direction on the processing of complaints. This aims to enhance the accountability and transparency mechanisms and support the overall effectiveness of the PCRC.
The Act provides the Governor-in-Council regulation making powers, including for information sharing and related procedures (e.g., protection of information, procedural service standards), as well as delineation of mandates and coordination with other bodies such as the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA).
Potential impacts on Canadians, including businesses
The regulatory initiative is expected to impact various stakeholders who have long called for independent review of Canadian law enforcement agencies or who may have concerns about increased scrutiny. The groups that will be most impacted include:
- RCMP and CBSA employees
- First Nations, Inuit and Métis people
- Racialized communities
- Civil Liberties and legal organizations/groups
- RCMP and CBSA employee Unions
There are no expected impacts on international trade or investment.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
Not applicable.
Consultations
Public Safety Canada (PS) has consulted internally with portfolio partners including the current review body (the CRCC) as well as the NSIRA. Over the coming months, PS is anticipating consulting external stakeholders, including CBSA and RCMP employee unions as well as human rights, civil liberties, indigenous, racialized and legal groups and organizations on regulations pursuant to the Act.
Further information
Information and analysis that supports this regulatory initiative is not publicly available. The public may consult resources regarding the passage of the Act into law and the PCRC here: Legislation to create enhanced independent review body for the RCMP and the CBSA receives Royal Assent.
Public Safety Canada contact information
Mike McGuire
Director General
International and Border Policy Division
Public Safety Canada
269 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0P8
Mike.McGuire@PS-SP.GC.CA
Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan
November 2025.
- Date modified: