When it comes to the federal program, the RCMP program--and there are other practices at other levels--the main mechanism would be the Public Complaints Commission. There have been cases before that particular body, but the protection tends to be limited. I know that Mr. Paul Kennedy, who is the commissioner, has appeared before you, but I don't remember clearly all of his comments.
It is very difficult for witnesses to come forward with complaints, because they are basically complaining about people who are responsible for their protection. We may be prepared to believe that all of the people involved in the program will act with integrity, are professionals, and so on, and it may well be the case, but from the point of view of witnesses and people who are caught in those situations--really frightening situations oftentimes--the first thing that comes to their mind is not to go and complain about them. I'm not saying they don't, but what we need to have is a mechanism whereby reviews are done independently of individual complaints when there are signs that perhaps practices are evolving in a direction that is problematic, or when there are signs that policies or practices might be in need of review.