A federal oversight body is calling for changes to how Nunavut handle complaints from the public, starting with fixing investigation turnaround times that should take months but sometimes stretch into years.
The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission also recommended in a report published Thursday that the make the process more culturally appropriate and accessible to those in the sprawling northern territory.
The report also called for Mounties in NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 V Division to make public-complaints training mandatory and provide cultural training to officers before they arrive in Nunavut.
SA国际影视传媒淭he in Nunavut should work with communities, Inuit-led groups and the CRCC to develop a culturally appropriate alternative complaint resolution mechanism,SA国际影视传媒� the commission said in a statement.
SA国际影视传媒淭he Nunavut should prioritize recruiting and retaining Inuit public complaint investigators and administrators.SA国际影视传媒�
The commission is an independent federal agency that reviews complaints against the .
The Nunavut report made 14 findings and nine recommendations on how the complaint process could be improved.
Among the findings, it determined V Division didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have a formal process to ensure public complaint investigations complied with national guidelines. It found documentation and reasons for delays in those investigations were often inadequate.
There were 75 public complaints in Nunavut over the 2018 to 2022 review period, the report said. The commission found investigations took too long, and many were also deemed inadequate.
Also analyzing complaints from 2015 to 2021, the report found some investigations took three to five years to complete. There was also a SA国际影视传媒済eneral failureSA国际影视传媒� to update people on the status of their complaints.
SA国际影视传媒淪ome investigations were not initiated by the for nearly two years, resulting in some withdrawing their complaints,SA国际影视传媒� the report said. SA国际影视传媒淣early two-thirds of complaints were either withdrawn or informally resolved SA国际影视传媒� this percentage was much higher than the national average.SA国际影视传媒�
The report also found lodging complaints can be intimidating because, in small detachments, the member residents might be complaining about could be the same one handing them the form.
They may also have a history of dealing with police and feel concerned about SA国际影视传媒減otential retaliation.SA国际影视传媒�
It also found language barriers to be an issue as complaints couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be filed in Inuktut, forcing complainants to rely on a translator. Reports were often withdrawn because no interpreters were available, the commission says.
SA国际影视传媒淢ore information needs to be available in Inuktut in various formats, and community members must be able to have access to services in Inuktut,SA国际影视传媒� the report said, adding that insufficient Inuit representation contributes to language barriers and overall lack of confidence in the .
SA国际影视传媒淩ecruiting and retaining Inuktut-speaking members needs to be a priority.SA国际影视传媒�
The commission said improving Inuit representation would advance reconciliation efforts, show respect for Inuit history and comply with the National Inuit Action Plan.
Nunavut were not immediately available for comment, but the report notes V Division has begun improving file completion times.
Nunavut are also already taking steps to hire more Inuit members and employees, the report said, noting how itSA国际影视传媒檚 identifying suitable candidates, working to provide language training and arranging for oral exams to be proctored by an member.
SA国际影视传媒淚 am pleased that the Commissioner has agreed that the Nunavut will continue to collaborate with the CRCC,SA国际影视传媒� said commission chair Michelaine Lahaie in a statement.
SA国际影视传媒淎s it is imperative that a culturally appropriate complaint resolution process for Nunavut be developed, the CRCC is committed to working with communities, Inuit-led groups, and the .SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒擝y Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press
