Spy watchdog raps RCMP over application of protocol to avoid complicity in torture

A federal spy watchdog says a senior RCMP official wrongly considered the importance of a strategic relationship with a foreign organization when deciding whether sharing information posed a risk of torture.

A federal spy watchdog says a senior RCMP official wrongly considered the importance of a strategic relationship with a foreign organization when deciding whether sharing information posed a risk of torture.

The aim of the Avoiding Complicity in Mistreatment by Foreign Entities Act is to prevent the brutalization of someone in overseas custody due to the information Canada exchanges with agencies abroad.

The RCMP and other federal agencies subject to these provisions must assess the risk of mistreatment and whether a risk can be managed.

In a report released Thursday, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency strongly cautions against including other considerations, such as fostering strategic relationships, in the assessment of substantial risk.

The intelligence review agency recommended that in cases where an RCMP assistant commissioner disagrees with a committee's recommendation not to share information, the case be automatically referred to the force's commissioner.

The heavily redacted report, the review agency's latest to examine the anti-torture protocol, covers the calendar year 2021.

The watchdog found the RCMP had "a robust framework" in place for the triage and processing of cases pertaining to the law aimed at avoiding complicity.