News Release

Chair-Initiated Complaint and Public Interest Investigation
Shooting death of Mr. John Simon at Wagmatcook, on the Cape Breton First Nations reserve on December 2, 2008

File No.: 2010-0861

OTTAWA, March 16, 2010 – Ian McPhail, acting Chair of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC), has initiated a complaint and public interest investigation into the conduct of the RCMP members present at the shooting death of Mr. John Simon at Wagmatcook, Nova Scotia on December 2, 2008.

The Chair can initiate a complaint under Part VII of the RCMP Act to review the conduct of RCMP members.

By instituting a public interest investigation into a complaint, the Commission can appoint its own independent lead civilian investigator, rather than having the complaint investigated by the RCMP on the Commission's behalf.

While internal discipline is within the discretion of the RCMP, the apparent lack of internal discipline in this case has raised much public concern.

The Commission's investigation will examine all aspects of this tragic matter including the RCMP's response on that day, and its training, policies and procedures. The Commission will also examine the conduct of the RCMP members involved in the subsequent investigation to ensure that it was carried out impartially and in a timely manner.

The CPC is distinct and independent from the RCMP and has jurisdiction over public complaints regarding all members of the RCMP.

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For more information, please contact:
Kate McDerby
613-952-3729
kate.mcderby@cpc-cpp.gc.ca