Public Safety committee  No.

Public Safety committee  No. We do reviews on about 190 complaints per year out of the 2,000 that come through the door annually.

Public Safety committee  Yes.

Public Safety committee  I indicated that I have one right now where that is a problem. But they are actually working with us and trying to get the individual to waive...in other words, to get the individual to consent, and therefore, they would say there's no problem with the statutory prohibition because the individual has consented.

Public Safety committee  In this case, the individual in the program is the complainant.

Public Safety committee  I have had none brought to my attention of that nature. I can have our people review the files we have to see whether there is anything of that nature.

Public Safety committee  I can't tell about the past, because I haven't consulted with my predecessors. But I think the case that went to the Federal Court probably brought to light that there may have been information that was not being shared—and maybe not identified as not being shared. It's like not knowing what you don't know.

Public Safety committee  I'd say it's better. I'm very familiar with the comments of my predecessor. I think it's different. What I've endeavoured—and this is not to make a contrast, because I just prefer to speak for myself—is to professionalize the relationship with them and to find out, if someone is not giving me information, whether it is just because they're being obstreperous or because there is a reason for it.

Public Safety committee  The process is that when we receive a request for a review by us, we notify the RCMP that we have gotten a request, and we ask them then to forward to us any of what's called the relevant material that would have been considered by the RCMP in the first instance when they were adjudicating on the appeal.

Public Safety committee  I wasn't merely speaking in terms of the need for enhanced powers just for that purpose. I spoke to those powers because I think it relates directly to the efficacy of the commission to look at the program you're looking at. When I look at the Hansards back in 1995-96, when the legislation was put forward, there was all sorts of discussion at that time as to whether we could look at the program and whether there would be in camera hearings before committees and things of that nature, because parliamentarians were concerned about making sure of the efficacy of the program.

Public Safety committee  That has improved through the years. It has improved recently, relative to the history of the organization, and I'll put that in the following context. The organization had historically had a backlog, and when I came on board, the first case I signed was in the commission for six years and was a ten-year-old fact situation.

Public Safety committee  Yes. I have it with me. As I read my notes this morning, I thought somebody was probably going to ask for that.

Public Safety committee  Yes. We have copies in both official languages that we'll share with you.

Public Safety committee  I'd have to look and see. We didn't analyze it for that purpose. I pointed out that the cases go back prior to this legislation being put in place. As a matter of fact, the two that I referred to in specific were both, I think, in 1991 and 1992. Regarding the 27 that are complaints, we could undertake to get back to you to see if we can identify what part of the country they came from and possibly break it down for you chronologically, if that would be of assistance.

Public Safety committee  Yes, it's fair to say. And I indicated that the recommendations were made in 1992--the legislation was 1995--and part of the challenge at that time was the articulation of criteria and so on. In June 1996, the legislation was passed. It mapped out criteria and so on. That certainly helped a bit, and I think it's fair to say that over time policies have been put in place to regularize it a bit.