Madam Speaker, I should repeat the mandate of this board, for the benefit of Canadians. It would appear that my colleague across the way has great difficulty grasping it, so I am going to read it word for word from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act. I will read from the English text.
The Commission has, in relation to the complaint before it, the powers conferred on a board of inquiry, in relation to the matter before it, by paragraphs 24.1(3)(a), (b) and (c).
What do paragraphs 24.1(3)( a ), ( b ) and ( c ) say? First of all:
—A board of inquiry has, in relation to the matter before it, power
(a) to summon any person before the board and to require that person to give oral or written evidence on oath and to produce such documents and things under that person's control as the board deems requisite to the full investigation and consideration of that matter;
(b) to administer oaths;
(c) to receive and accept on oath or by affidavit such evidence and other information as the board sees fit—
Despite his protestations to the contrary, my colleague across the floor is casting doubt on the very credibility of the organization. The specific purpose of creating this board was for it to hear citizen complaints against the RCMP.
This board was informed of the complaint on the initiative of the students themselves. I find it regrettable that an attempt is being made to use this as a pretext to discredit that body.