VICTORIA – The B.C. government must press the federal government to strengthen independent oversight of the RCMP so that the federal force is subject to review as B.C. police forces are with the B.C. Police Complaints Commissioner, according to New Democrat Public Safety Critic Mike Farnworth.



“Events such as the death of Ian Bush while in RCMP custody and this week’s pepper spraying of members of the Sechelt Nation suggest that the federal government must set up a stronger mechanism to oversee the RCMP than the current RCMP Public Complaints Commission,” Farnworth said today. “Solicitor General John Les and the B.C. government must press the federal government to strengthen oversight of the RCMP.”



Policing in many B.C. communities is handled by the RCMP, and the B.C. Police Complaints Commissioner, who answers to the legislature, can only investigate matters involving local, non-RCMP police forces. The RCMP Public Complaints Commission has limited powers that were granted nearly 20 years ago.



“Even the chair of the RCMP Public Complaints Commission, Paul Kennedy, is saying that the RCMP needs much stronger oversight than his commission can provide, and both the federal and B.C. governments must work together to strengthen this oversight so that British Columbians and other Canadians can continue to have confidence in the RCMP,” said Farnworth, the MLA for Port Coquitlam – Burke Mountain.



“We will soon be getting findings from the Coroner’s inquest into the death of Ian Bush. But the inquest cannot deal with the RCMP’s investigation of the matter, and that is another reason why we need a strong new oversight agency to ensure that the RCMP is operating in a proper manner.



“Mr. Les and Premier Campbell cannot stand by and hope that the federal government will act. Because so many British Columbians depend on the RCMP for police services, the B.C. government must actively press for better oversight of the RCMP,” Farnworth said.