Source: https://www.leg.bc.ca/parliamentary-business/committees-reports/32
Timestamp: 2020-04-10 03:49:51
Document Index: 4691265

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 9', 'art 11', 'arts 9', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 2', 'art 9']

Appendix A: Part 9 of the Police Act (RSBC 1996, c. 367)
Appendix B: Previous Appointment Provisions
We have the honour to present herewith the Report of the Special Committee to Appoint a Police Complaint Commissioner containing our unanimous recommendation.
On November 6, 2014, the Legislative Assembly agreed that a Special Committee be appointed to select and unanimously recommend the appointment of a Police Complaint Commissioner, pursuant to section 47 of the Police Act [RSBC 1996] c.367
The said Special Committee is to be composed of John Martin (Convener), Marvin Hunt, Eric Foster, Mike Farnworth, and Jennifer Rice.
The Police Complaint Commissioner serves the people of British Columbia by ensuring impartial civilian oversight of public complaints of misconduct involving municipal police.
The position of Police Complaint Commissioner was established in 1998 under Part 9 of the Police Act, in response to recommendations in the 1994 Oppal Commission Report, Closing the Gap: Policing and the Community. The 2007 Wood Report on the Review of the Police Complaint Process in British Columbia led to a strengthening of the role of the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner through legislative amendments which were passed by the Legislative Assembly in 2010.
The RCMP is outside the jurisdiction of the Office – complaints of misconduct involving RCMP officers are reviewed by the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (which is being replaced under 2013 federal legislation by the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP).
In 2011, amendments to the Police Act established a separate Independent Investigations Office to investigate officer related incidents of serious harm and death. That office became operational in 2012.
Under the Police Act, the Police Complaint Commissioner is an independent officer of the Legislature. The formal appointment mechanism for the position is a resolution of the Legislative Assembly.
The current Commissioner, Stan T. Lowe, was initially appointed for a six-year non-renewable term starting on February 11, 2009 under the then-existing appointment provisions of the Police Act.
In May 2009, the Legislative Assembly adopted the Police (Police Complaint Commissioner) Amendment Act 2009, which amended the Commissioner’s appointment provisions to provide for an initial term of five years, which is renewable for a second term with a period of up to five years – resulting in a total maximum appointment period of ten years. The legislation included transition provisions to establish parallel conditions for the current Commissioner, setting the expiry of his first term on February 28, 2015, and allowing for his reappointment for a second term of up to four years – i.e., a total maximum appointment period of ten years. With respect to reappointment, the legislation further requires that a Commissioner must notify the Legislative Assembly at least six months before the end of the first term that she or he wishes to be considered for reappointment.
The May 2009 changes also provide for direct appointment of the Commissioner, as an officer of the Legislature, by resolution of the Legislative Assembly instead of by order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, bringing the position in line with appointment provisions for other Statutory Officers.
In November 2014, the Special Committee to Appoint a Police Complaint Commissioner was struck to recommend the appointment of a Police Complaint Commissioner. The Committee held its first meeting on November 25, 2014, and undertook deliberations on December 11, 2014, and January 27, 2015.
During the third session of the 40th Parliament, the Committee considered the appointment of a Police Complaint Commissioner at the following meetings:
Notification of the Police Complaint Commissioner’s interest in reappointment
On November 25, 2014, the Committee held an organizational meeting and elected the Chair and Deputy Chair. The Committee was advised of the notification by the incumbent Police Complaint Commissioner of his interest in reappointment.
As a first step, the Committee met on December 11, 2014 to interview the incumbent Commissioner. During the interview, he was asked a comprehensive set of questions regarding professional experience, leadership style, organizational management, and suitability for reappointment.
The interview enabled Committee Members to undertake a review the Commissioner’s work and achievements since his appointment in February 2009. The Commissioner has: implemented 2010 statutory changes to the responsibilities of the Office; built up a more professional staff culture; and increased the use of evidence-based procedures and Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve complaints. Pursuant to the Police Act, the Office of the Auditor General carried out an audit of selected complaints and investigations undertaken by the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner between April 2010 and August 2012, and concluded that these were, in all significant respects, completed in compliance with the Act. The Commissioner has also strengthened the Office’s engagement of police agencies, stakeholders, and citizens, and advanced work on a vision for the future work of the Office.
After the interview was concluded, the Committee deliberated carefully on December 11, 2014, and January 27, 2015. Committee Members expressed confidence in the Commissioner’s continued ability to lead and manage the Office, acknowledging his achievements in fostering a professional staff culture, strengthening public engagement and outreach, and developing a vision for the possible future work of the Office.
Committee Members concluded that Mr. Lowe’s background, abilities, and experience would provide ongoing leadership for this important position, and agreed unanimously to recommend to the Legislative Assembly that he be reappointed as Police Complaint Commissioner for a term of four years.
The Committee unanimously recommends to the Legislative Assembly that:
Stan T. Lowe be re-appointed as Police Complaint Commissioner for a 4 year term commencing on March 1, 2015, pursuant to the Police Act (RSBC 1996, c. 367) and the Police (Police Complaint Commissioner) Amendment Act 2009
Since his appointment as the Police Complaint Commissioner for British Columbia in February 2009, Mr. Lowe has expanded the use of alternative dispute resolution at the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, helping complainants and officers to reach fair outcomes and providing participants with more positive and meaningful outcomes.
Appendix A: part 9 of the Police Act (RSBC 1996, c.367)
Part 9 — Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner
46 (1) The definitions in Divisions 1 and 2 of Part 11 [Misconduct, Complaints, Investigations, Discipline and Proceedings] apply for the purposes of this Part.
(2) In sections 47 to 49, "committee" means the special committee of the Legislative Assembly that the Legislative Assembly specifies for the purposes of those sections.
Division 2 — Police Complaint Commissioner
47 (1) The Legislative Assembly, by resolution, may appoint as the police complaint commissioner a person to exercise the powers and perform the duties assigned to the police complaint commissioner under this Act.
(2) The police complaint commissioner and any acting police complaint commissioner appointed under this Act are officers of the Legislature.
(3) Subject to section 48, the police complaint commissioner holds office,
(b) if appointed for a 2nd term, for a period of up to 5 years as specified in the reappointment resolution.
(4) The Legislative Assembly may not appoint a person under subsection (1) who has not previously been appointed police complaint commissioner, unless the committee unanimously recommends the appointment of the person.
(5) The Legislative Assembly may not appoint a police complaint commissioner for a 2nd term under subsection (1) unless
(a) the police complaint commissioner notifies the committee at least 6 months before the end of the first term that she or he wishes to be considered for reappointment, and
(b) the committee unanimously recommends the reappointment within 60 days of being notified by the police complaint commissioner under paragraph (a) of this subsection.
(6) A person must not be appointed under subsection (1) for a 3rd or subsequent term.
Resignation, suspension or removal of police complaint commissioner
48 (1) The police complaint commissioner may resign from office at any time by giving written notice
(2) By a resolution passed by 2/3 or more of the members present in the Legislative Assembly, the police complaint commissioner, for cause or incapacity, may be suspended from office, with or without salary, or removed from office.
(3) If the Legislative Assembly is not sitting and is not scheduled to sit within 5 days, the committee, by unanimous resolution, may suspend the police complaint commissioner for cause or incapacity, with or without salary, for a period that must be set by the committee to end not later than on the expiry of a further 20 sitting days of the Legislative Assembly.
49 (1) If the police complaint commissioner is suspended under section 48 or the office is vacant, the Legislative Assembly, by resolution and on the recommendation of the committee, may appoint an acting police complaint commissioner to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the police complaint commissioner under this Act until the suspension ends or an appointment is made under section 47 (1).
(2) If the police complaint commissioner is suspended under section 48 or the office is vacant, and if the Legislative Assembly is not sitting and is not scheduled to sit within 5 days, the committee, by resolution, may appoint an acting police complaint commissioner to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the police complaint commissioner under this Act,
(a) if the police complaint commissioner is suspended under section 48 (2), until the suspension ends,
(b) if the police complaint commissioner is suspended under section 48 (3), for the period set by the committee under that provision, or
(c) if the office of the police complaint commissioner is vacant, until an appointment is made under section 47 (1).
(a) to faithfully and impartially exercise those powers and perform those duties, and
50 [Repealed 2009-28-4.]
(b) to be reimbursed for reasonable travelling and out-of-pocket expenses personally incurred in exercising the powers and performing the duties of the police complaint commissioner under this Act.
(2) The public service plan as defined in section 1 (1) of the Public Sector Pension Plans Act applies to the police complaint commissioner.
Staff and other designated individuals
51 (1) The police complaint commissioner may appoint, in accordance with the Public Service Act and regulations, if any, made under section 184 (2) (b) [regulations under Parts 9 and 11] of this Act, one or more deputy police complaint commissioners and other employees necessary for exercising the powers and performing the duties of the police complaint commissioner under this Act.
(2) For the purposes of the application of the Public Service Act to subsection (1) of this section, the police complaint commissioner is a deputy minister.
(3) The police complaint commissioner may retain consultants, mediators, experts, specialists and other persons that the police complaint commissioner considers necessary to enable or assist the police complaint commissioner in exercising powers or performing duties of the police complaint commissioner under this Act.
(4) The police complaint commissioner may establish the remuneration and other terms and conditions of a person, other than a mediator, retained under subsection (3).
(5) The police complaint commissioner may designate
(a) an individual for the purposes of receiving, recording and registering complaints, forwarding them to the police complaint commissioner and assisting complainants under sections 78 (2) [how complaints are made] and 80 [if complaint made to member or designated individual under section 78 (2) (b)], or
(b) an individual for the purposes of receiving and recording service or policy complaints, forwarding them to the police complaint commissioner and assisting persons under sections 168 (2) (b) [making a service or policy complaint] and 169 [if complaint made to member, designated individual or chair under section 168 (2) (b)].
(6) A designation under subsection (5) (a) or (b) may include terms and conditions the police complaint commissioner considers appropriate.
(7) The Public Service Act does not apply in respect of the following:
(a) a person retained under subsection (3);
(b) an individual designated under subsection (5) (a) or (b), except to the extent that the Public Service Act may already apply to any such individual before the designation.
51.01 (1) Before beginning to exercise powers and perform duties under this Act, a deputy police complaint commissioner and an employee appointed under section 51 (1) must take an oath before the police complaint commissioner
(a) to faithfully and impartially exercise the powers and perform the duties delegated by the police complaint commissioner to the deputy police complaint commissioner or the other employee, and
(b) not to divulge any information received in the exercise of those powers or performance of those duties, except as permitted under this Act.
(2) A person retained under section 51 (3) must take an oath before the police complaint commissioner not to divulge any information received in assisting the police complaint commissioner in the exercise of her or his powers or performance of her or his duties under this Act.
(3) Before beginning to perform duties under section 80 [if complaint made to member or designated individual under section 78 (2) (b)] or 169 [if complaint made to member, designated individual or chair under section 168 (2) (b)], an individual designated under section 51 (5) (a) or (b) must take an oath before the police complaint commissioner
(a) to faithfully and impartially perform those duties, and
(b) not to divulge any information received in the performance of those duties, except as permitted under this Act.
(4) For the purposes of subsections (1) to (3), the police complaint commissioner is a commissioner for taking affidavits in British Columbia.
(5) The police complaint commissioner, any person employed, retained or designated by the police complaint commissioner, and every investigating officer must, except as specifically authorized under this Act, maintain confidentiality in respect of all matters that come to her or his knowledge in the exercise of powers or performance of duties under this Act.
Non-delegable powers and duties of police complaint commissioner
51.02 The police complaint commissioner may not delegate to any person employed, retained or designated by the police complaint commissioner any of the following powers and duties:
(a) the duty of the police complaint commissioner to report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly under section 51.1 [annual report];
(b) the powers of the police complaint commissioner under section 84 (2) or (4) [discontinuance and consolidation of complaints made by third-party complainants];
(c) the power of the police complaint commissioner under section 92 (1) or (3) [external investigations when in public interest];
(d) the power of the police complaint commissioner under section 93 [independent power to order investigation, whether or not complaint made];
(e) the power of the police complaint commissioner under section 97 (1) (d) [police complaint commissioner's powers relating to investigation];
(f) the power of the police complaint commissioner to appoint a retired judge under section 117 (1) [appointment of new discipline authority if conclusion of no misconduct is incorrect];
(g) the duty of the police complaint commissioner to appoint a retired judge as a discipline authority under section 135 (2) (b) [power to designate another discipline authority if in public interest];
(h) the duties of the police complaint commissioner under section 138 [determining whether to arrange public hearing or review on the record];
(i) the duties of the police complaint commissioner under section 142 (1) and (2) [appointment of adjudicator for public hearing or review on the record];
(j) the duties of the police complaint commissioner under section 177 (2) (a) and (b) [guidelines], (c) [forms] and (f) [reports];
(k) the powers of the police complaint commissioner under section 177 (4).
Personal liability protection and non-compellability in civil proceedings
51.03 (1) In this section, "protected individual" means an individual who is or was any of the following:
(b) a deputy police complaint commissioner or an employee appointed under section 51 (1);
(c) a person retained by the police complaint commissioner under section 51 (3);
(d) an individual designated by the police complaint commissioner under section 51 (5).
(4) A protected individual and anyone acting for or under the direction of the protected individual must not give, or be compelled to give, evidence in court or in any other proceedings in respect of any records or information obtained in the exercise of powers or performance of duties under this Act.
(5) Despite subsection (4), a protected individual or anyone acting for or under the direction of the protected individual may give, or be compelled to give, evidence in any of the following:
(a) a prosecution for perjury in respect of sworn testimony;
(b) a prosecution for an offence under this Act;
(c) an application for judicial review of a decision made under this Act.
(6) Subsections (4) and (5) apply also in respect of evidence of the existence of an investigation under Part 11, a mediation or other means of informal resolution under Part 11 or any proceeding conducted under Part 11.
Audit of complaints and investigations under Part 11
51.2 (1) In this section, "special committee" means a special committee of the Legislative Assembly that the Legislative Assembly appoints for the purposes of this section.
(2) Before January 1, 2013, the special committee must conduct an audit respecting the outcome or resolution of randomly selected complaints and investigations under Part 11, and must submit a report respecting the results of the audit to the Legislative Assembly within one year after the date of the appointment of the special committee.
(3) As part of the audit process contemplated by subsection (2), the special committee may
(a) request the police complaint commissioner to provide copies of any records, information or reports referred to in section 177 (2) (d) to (f) [general responsibility and functions of police complaint commissioner],
(b) review and consider the copies of records, information and reports referred to in paragraph (a) that the police complaint commissioner provides, and
(4) Subject to subsection (5), the police complaint commissioner must comply with a request of the special committee under subsection (3) (a).
(5) Before providing copies of the records, information and reports referred to in subsection (3) (a), the police complaint commissioner may sever any portions that must or may be excepted from disclosure by the head of a public body under Division 2 of Part 2 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
(6) At least once every 6 years after the report under subsection (2) is submitted to the Legislative Assembly, the special committee must act as described in subsections (2) and (3).
(7) A report submitted under subsection (2) or (6) may include any recommendations that the special committee considers necessary or appropriate.
52, 52.1-52.2 [Repealed 2009-28-7.]
53-62 [Repealed 2009-28-7.]
63-63.1 [Repealed 2009-28-7.]
64 [Repealed 2009-28-7.]
64.1-66.1 [Repealed 2009-28-7.]
Appointment Provisions in Effect in February 2009
The current Police Complaint Commissioner was initially appointed for a six-year non-renewable term starting on February 11, 2009 under the then-existing appointment provisions of the Police Act. These provisions follow.
Appointment Provisions Adopted in May 2009
In May 2009, the Legislative Assembly adopted the Police (Police Complaint Commissioner) Amendment Act 2009. The legislation amended the above appointment provisions to provide for an initial term of five years, which is renewable for a second term with a period of up to five years – for a total maximum appointment period of ten years. The legislation included transition provisions to establish parallel conditions for the current Commissioner, setting the expiry of his first term on February 28, 2015, and allowing for his reappointment for a second term of up to four years – for a total maximum appointment period of ten years.
The provisions of the May 2009 legislation follow.
SECTION 1: [Police Act, section 46] adds a definition of "committee" to Part 9 of the Act.
1 Section 46 (1) of the Police Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 367, is amended by adding the following definition:
SECTION 2: [Police Act, sections 47 to 49]
2 Sections 47 to 49 are repealed and the following substituted:
SECTION 3: [Police Act, section 49.1] consistent with practice and legislation respecting officers of the Legislature, requires the police complaint commissioner to take an oath of office.
SECTION 4: [Police Act, section 50] updates a reference to the minister charged with the administration of the Police Act.
4 Section 50 (3) (e) is amended by striking out "the Attorney General" and substituting "the minister".
SECTION 5: [Police Act, section 50.1] statutorily provides the police complaint commissioner with a salary equal to that of the chief judge of the Provincial Court of British Columbia, and applies the public service pension plan to the police complaint commissioner.
5 Section 50.1 is repealed and the following substituted:
SECTION 6: [Transition — appointment and pension of police complaint commissioner] deems the current police complaint commissioner to have been appointed under and in accordance with section 47 of the Police Act, as enacted by this Bill, except that the first term of appointment is for 6 years with a possible 2nd term of up to 4 years, and provides retroactively for application of the public service pension plan to the current police complaint commissioner.
6 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the police complaint commissioner holding office on the date that this section comes into force is deemed to have been appointed under and in accordance with section 47 of the Police Act, as enacted by this Act.
(2) Subject to section 48 of the Police Act, as enacted by this Act, the police complaint commissioner referred to in subsection (1) of this section holds office
(a) for a first term ending February 28, 2015, and
(b) if appointed for a 2nd term, for a period of up to 4 years as specified in the reappointment resolution.
(3) Section 50.1 (2) of the Police Act, as enacted by this Act, applies to the police complaint commissioner referred to in subsection (1) of this section effective February 13, 2009.
(4) This section is retroactive to the extent necessary to give it effect on and after February 13, 2009.