Watchdog says RCMP delaying investigation into unit that polices B.C. resource protests

The federal agency tasked with reviewing complaints against the RCMP says the police force is causing "significant delays" to an investigation of a unit set up to deal with protests against energy and logging projects.

The federal agency tasked with reviewing complaints against the RCMP says the police force is causing “significant delays” to an investigation of a unit set up to deal with protests against energy and logging projects.

In an investigation update this week, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP says it has received “little information or records” since July from the police force's E Division, headquartered in Surrey, B.C.

The commission says it has made progress in its probe of the controversial Community-Industry Response Unit, but says finishing the investigation will be delayed.

It says a recent meeting between the commission and the RCMP outlined “concerns about the delays,” and the force has since provided it with more than 400 files, though “significant” information is yet to be provided.

The investigation was initiated in March to look into whether the unit's policing of protests was consistent with case law, the Canadian Charter, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The commission has hired a law firm to help in its “systemic investigation,” to interview people who interacted with the police unit during protests at B.C. logging sites and along the Coastal GasLink pipeline project.

The brother-sister legal team at Turtle Island Law, Sharae Antley and Jaden Bourque, said in an interview that they've had initial meetings with potential participants and formal interviews will begin next week.