2023-24 Reporting on the Calls for Justice 9.1 to 9.11: Calls for Police Services

The work of the Intercultural Learning Strategy responds, in part, to the Call for Justice 9.1 in that the Uniting Against Racism Learning Series was created to help Royal Canadian Mounted Police employees develop the knowledge and skills to understand racism and its roots, which will help to become better allies and advocates and be an agent of positive change in the way the organization serves Canadians.

As of January 2, 2024, 87.3% of Royal Canadian Mounted Police employees have completed this training.

Lead Department: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Funding Amount: $75M/5 years
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: Internal and external partners in the First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities; Pauktuutit; Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: 6c, 6d, 39
Related Calls for Justice: 9.1. 9.2i, 9.2ii, 9.2iv

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada is committed to engaging with local justice committee members and/or Elders to identify culturally appropriate and trauma-informed approaches for victims and witnesses. The organization is steering its engagement efforts toward a more regional and local approach as part of an integrated and organic approach intended to complement the development of prosecutorial innovations rather than the original pan-northern approach, while it follows the evolution of the Department of Justice's Indigenous Engagement Strategy.

Prosecution teams in the Northwest Territories and in Nunavut have been engaging with local Non-Government Organizations and Indigenous community leaders to address sexual violence issues in these regions. The knowledge and lessons learned gathered from these activities will be shared with the Yukon office to assist them in developing a strategy that is meaningful for their region.

The Nunavut Regional Office has dedicated a team, led by an Inuk senior counsel, to work on implementing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᑐᖃᖏᑦ) into prosecutorial decision-making. Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is a difficult concept to define. It goes beyond "Inuit traditional knowledge" and instead provides a framework within which one can think about and approach life. Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is a broad concept that changes between regions, communities, and even families. It is a fluid, organic system that relies on multiple sources of input (usually taking the form of Elders discussing an issue and coming to a common understanding). It remains adaptable as changes occur in society.

The goal of this project is for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada to find a way to incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into its Nunavut region's practice and the criminal justice system without compromising its essence as a set of living principles. The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit project will allow Public Prosecution Service of Canada prosecutors to consult with Inuit Elders, benefitting from their knowledge and wisdom, and to further consider Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in their assessment of a reasonable prospect of conviction and public interest. This project is expected to be launched in two pilot communities, Pangnirtung and Baker Lake (Qamini'tuaq). The Nunavut region is hopeful that the project will be extended to more communities.

Lead Department: Public Prosecution Service of Canada
Funding Amount: $23.5M/3 years (shared by all four PPSC initiatives)
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: Victims; Witnesses; Justice committees; Local partners; Indigenous community leaders in the three territories
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 9.2, 9.2ii

The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) continued its study on the collection of demographic data, including race-based data. This project responds to Call for Justice 9.2i, as it will help the CRCC better understand the different populations, who may access the public complaint process, including Indigenous peoples and marginalized groups.

The CRCC received the final report this past fiscal year and is reviewing the recommendations for feasibility.

The CRCC will leverage the study to develop its broader data strategy, and its approach to collecting, analyzing and reporting on demographic data, including but not limited to, race-based data.

Lead Department: Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP
Funding Amount: Existing funding
Funding Source: Existing funding
Partners: Academics; Internal and external stakeholders
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: N/A

One of the deliverables of the Intercultural Learning Strategy will include adapting existing learning policies, processes, and standards to remove any barriers so that the design and development of all future training can be inclusive, free of bias, and reflective of the lived experience of Royal Canadian Mounted Police employees and the communities it serves. Consultation feedback will be used to inform these policy changes in the coming years.

Lead Department: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Funding Amount: $75M/5 years
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: Internal and external partners in the First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities; Pauktuutit; Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: 6c, 6d, 39
Related Calls for Justice: 9.1. 9.2i, 9.2ii, 9.2iv

Since the launch in March 2023, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) continued to review the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's (RCMP) "E" Division Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG). This systemic investigation aligns with Call for Justice 9.2i, as it includes an examination of relevant RCMP policies, procedures, guidelines and training to assess their adequacy, appropriateness, sufficiency and clarity.

This systemic investigation includes a comprehensive file review to assess whether or to what extent the activities and operations of the C-IRG are carried out in accordance with legal standards, policy requirements, and leading practices. Following its review, the CRCC will establish findings on C-IRG operations and provide recommendations to the RCMP, ensuring accountability to the Canadian public. This past fiscal year, the CRCC investigation team analyzed materials and records received from the RCMP.

Lead Department: Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP
Funding Amount: Existing funding
Funding Source: Existing funding and Program Integrity Funding
Partners: External stakeholders; Indigenous communities and organizations; Individuals and groups who interacted with the Community-Industry Response Group
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 9.2i, 9.2ii

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada is committed to engaging with local justice committee members and/or Elders to identify culturally appropriate and trauma-informed approaches for victims and witnesses. The organization is steering its engagement efforts toward a more regional and local approach as part of an integrated and organic approach intended to complement the development of prosecutorial innovations rather than the original pan-northern approach, while it follows the evolution of the Department of Justice's Indigenous Engagement Strategy.

Prosecution teams in the Northwest Territories and in Nunavut have been engaging with local Non-Government Organizations and Indigenous community leaders to address sexual violence issues in these regions. The knowledge and lessons learned gathered from these activities will be shared with the Yukon office to assist them in developing a strategy that is meaningful for their region.

The Nunavut Regional Office has dedicated a team, led by an Inuk senior counsel, to work on implementing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᒪᔭᑐᖃᖏᑦ) into prosecutorial decision-making. Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is a difficult concept to define. It goes beyond "Inuit traditional knowledge" and instead provides a framework within which one can think about and approach life. Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is a broad concept that changes between regions, communities, and even families. It is a fluid, organic system that relies on multiple sources of input (usually taking the form of Elders discussing an issue and coming to a common understanding). It remains adaptable as changes occur in society.

The goal of this project is for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada to find a way to incorporate Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into its Nunavut region's practice and the criminal justice system without compromising its essence as a set of living principles. The Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit project will allow Public Prosecution Service of Canada prosecutors to consult with Inuit Elders, benefitting from their knowledge and wisdom, and to further consider Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in their assessment of a reasonable prospect of conviction and public interest. This project is expected to be launched in two pilot communities, Pangnirtung and Baker Lake (Qamini'tuaq). The Nunavut region is hopeful that the project will be extended to more communities.

The Yukon Regional office is engaging with First Nations justice officials and representatives from the communities outside of Whitehorse to work on expanding justice options that are currently available in Whitehorse including therapeutic courts and restorative justice programs.

The Yukon Regional Office is a member of the Yukon Sexualized Assault Response Team which is a Yukon inter-agency effort aimed at improving the experiences of victims and coordinating support from the time of the offence to beyond the prosecution. The Yukon Regional Office is participating in engagement sessions to expand Sexualized Assault Response Team beyond Whitehorse into the other Yukon communities.

Lead Department: Public Prosecution Service of Canada
Funding Amount: $23.5M/3 years (shared by all four PPSC initiatives)
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: Victims; Witnesses; Justice committees; Local partners; Indigenous community leaders in the three territories
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 9.2, 9.2ii

One of the key commitments of the Intercultural Learning Strategy is to engage in meaningful consultation with community stakeholders, including Indigenous Peoples in order to inform the training practices, policies, development, delivery and evaluation. In 2023-24, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police participated in a working group meeting with a national Indigenous organization and three Royal Canadian Mounted Police Employee Network Leads meetings and hosted three Intercultural Learning Strategy consultation sessions with Indigenous Employee Networks. Additional external consultations are expected in 2024.

Consultation is an essential component to advancing this initiative to ensure that learning products are relevant and current, with a goal of strengthening internal and external relationships. The Intercultural Learning Strategy consultation plan and findings will enhance training in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police by reflecting the lived experiences of the diverse learners and the communities we serve, while acknowledging community concerns and strengthening public trust in law enforcement. Consultation findings will also be used to validate current planned deliverables and to establish an action plan moving forward.

Lead Department: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Funding Amount: $75M/5 years
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: Internal and external partners in the First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities; Pauktuutit; Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: 6c, 6d, 39
Related Calls for Justice: 9.1. 9.2i, 9.2ii, 9.2iv

Prior to launching the systemic investigation on the Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG), the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) met with interested parties, including representatives from impacted Indigenous communities and organizations, to seek their views on the CRCC's terms of reference and approach. In light of their feedback, the terms of reference were revised to include an examination of C-IRG operations as they relate to the standards and expectations set by Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration Act) and the British Columbia Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).

In fiscal year 2023-2024, the CRCC prioritized a distinctions-based approach and hired the services of an Indigenous-owned law firm to interview individuals and groups who had interactions with the C-IRG. This presents an important opportunity for anyone who had contact with the C-IRG to come forward and share their experience in a de-colonial, Indigenized and trauma-informed manner. This process of truth gathering/truth sharing is consistent with Call for Justice 9.2ii, which emphasizes the need to engage with Indigenous peoples. The firm will also produce a "What We Heard Report" that, where and when possible, may be used to exemplify or inform the CRCC's findings and inform any recommendations.

Lead Department: Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP
Funding Amount: Existing funding
Funding Source: Existing funding and Program Integrity Funding
Partners: External stakeholders; Indigenous communities and organizations; Individuals and groups who interacted with the Community-Industry Response Group
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 9.2i, 9.2ii

In support of Call for Justice 9.2.iv, Indigenous awareness training was once again identified in the Public Service Performance Management Plan for all employees of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC). In September 2023, operational staff participated in cultural awareness training and created their own medicine bag with a local Indigenous-owned business. They listened to the facilitator's lived experience of the residential school system and its intergenerational impacts. They also learned about sacred medicines for ceremonies, cultural appropriation, and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Additionally, relevant staff continue to participate in training designed to sensitize researchers to Indigenous peoples' principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP) of data.

Continued training and education ensure that CRCC staff understand and interact with Indigenous peoples in culturally appropriate ways, especially as they serve those seeking to access the public complaint process following an interaction with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). It is also important that CRCC staff remain knowledgeable of the histories and realities faced by Indigenous peoples to inform research, policies, and initiatives that respect Indigenous values and principles, and address their specific needs.

Lead Department: Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP
Funding Amount: Existing funding
Funding Source: Existing funding
Partners: Public servants
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: N/A

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Intercultural Learning Strategy supports the procurement and design of learning products to foster the development of intercultural competence. These initiatives respond to Call for Justice 9.2 by supporting the training and education of RCMP employees in all ranks and categories so that they understand and implement culturally appropriate and trauma-informed practices, including when dealing with families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

The implementation of the Strategy involves:

• consulting with Indigenous employees and national Indigenous organizations on training needs to offer learning products that are informed by experts with lived experience
• reviewing existing training products to ensure they reflect an inclusive intercultural lens that appropriately references and represents diverse perspectives, sourcing, and/or developing learning products for all role and stages of career development establishing an evaluation approach to measure training success based on performance metrics tied to intercultural competence

In addition, RCMP employees have access to a suite of existing training related to sexual offence investigations. Relevant courses include, Using a Trauma Informed Approach, Sexual Offence Investigations, Intimate Partner Violence, Consent Law and Common Sexual Assault Myths, and Survivor-Led Human Trafficking Detection Training. The RCMP is also updating the Missing Persons Investigations course and has expanded training on human trafficking to include Indigenous awareness, human trafficking prevention elements and strengthening cultural awareness training for all employees.

These initiatives respond to the Calls for Justice by supporting the training and education of RCMP employees in all ranks and categories so that they understand and implement culturally appropriate and trauma-informed practices, including when dealing with families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.

As the Intercultural Learning Strategy evolves, it will enhance training to reflect lived experiences of learners and the communities they serve while acknowledging community concerns and strengthening public trust in law enforcement. Several training products have been launched that train employees to implement culturally appropriate and trauma-informed practices. Some examples are:

• Uniting Against Racism Learning Series – In October 2023, an evaluation report on the national Uniting Against Racism course was completed. The Uniting Against Racism evaluation examined knowledge and attitudes pre and post training. Over 14,000 employees responded to the evaluation; an unprecedented number. Overall, positive feedback was received. Evaluation findings are being reviewed in order inform upcoming changes to the course, but also to inform additional learning solutions that may be required moving forward.
• What's Your Perspective – These learning products are part of an ongoing micro-learning series that showcase unique perspectives on various topics of cultural significance. Several products from the Canadian Police Knowledge Network and the Canada School of Public Service have been sourced to be part of this series (e.g. The Uncomfortable Truth, 2SLGBTQI+, Indigenous Learning Series, etc.). In addition, the following videos were made available: One Spoon of Barley: Kati's Holocaust Memoir and Towards Understanding: A Conversation on Islamophobia. Additional topics will be planned for this series in 2024-25.
• Updated Missing Persons Investigations Course – This course includes content on human trafficking to include Indigenous awareness, human trafficking prevention elements and strengthening cultural awareness training for all employees. The course is currently being updated and anticipated to be re-launched in 2024.
• Race-Based Data Collection Training – The development of a Race Based Data Collection Job Aid is aligned with the RCMP's ongoing efforts to address and mitigate systemic racism within the RCMP. The Job Aid is designed to equip frontline members at pilot site detachments with the necessary skills and context to collect race-based data proficiently during specific policing interactions. The Job Aid was made available in November 2023.
• African Canadian Experience Workshop – This five-day workshop raises awareness about diversity in the workplace and equips employees with the knowledge and skills needed to proactively and effectively support a workplace that is inclusive, diverse and free of discrimination. The workshop will also assist in understanding obstacles and circumstances faced by those in the African Canadian and Nova Scotian Communities. Work is underway to implement changes to the format from the current five-day in-person model to a three-day hybrid model and combining in-person sessions with online content delivery
• Cultivating Equitable and Unbiased Policing – The development of a new national online course to address fair and unbiased policing is underway. The course is in development and anticipated to be piloted with RCMP British Columbia employees in April 2024 and then later launched for all RCMP in 2024
• Hate Crimes Training – New training is in development by the RCMP on behalf of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and the National Hate Crime Task Force. This training is designed for frontline police officers across Canada (in all police services) and will enhance the way they respond to victims of hate crimes/incidents and their broader communities. This training will be made available in 2024 to all POJs in Canada through the Canadian Police Knowledge Network.

Lead Department: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Funding Amount: $75M/5 years
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: Internal and external partners in the First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities; Pauktuutit; Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: 6c, 6d, 39
Related Calls for Justice: 9.1. 9.2i, 9.2ii, 9.2iv

This initiative responds to Call for Justice 9.5.v to ensure police have consistent reporting mechanisms of information on missing Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people and other missing persons. National standards will ensure that all cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people are thoroughly reported and investigated. In alignment with Call for Justice 9.5.v, this project will also make recommendations on the development of a national database for research and statistical purposes. To date, the project has completed a number of engagements with varying objectives.

To inform of the project and seek insights, advice on the way forward:

• Eight virtual information sessions and discussions with 18 representatives from National Indigenous Organizations, 27 from provincial/territorial government departments and 3 from federal departments. Summary of results from information sessions were produced and informed the next phase of engagements.
• Presentations to Policing with Indigenous Peoples Committee and the Police Information and Statistics Committee of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.
• Presentation to the First Nations Chiefs of Police Association.
• To understand current procedures, practices and data gathering regarding missing persons reports:
• Held virtual engagements with 13 police services and received 24 written submissions.
• To gather knowledge about other existing data sources, information needs, risk factors, and any new research initiatives and collaborations.
• Engagements with indigenous organizations, academics, researchers, government, non-government organizations

Lead Department: Statistics Canada; Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Funding Amount: $1.4M/5 years
Funding Source: Budget 2021
Partners: Stakeholders; Indigenous organizations; Racialized and other community organizations; Academics; Police services
Related Calls for Miskotahâ: N/A
Related Calls for Justice: 9.5v