March 31, 2020

Benson Cowan
Chief Executive Officer
Legal Services Board of Nunavut
Box 125, Gjoa Haven, NU X0B-1J0
Benson.Cowan@nulas.ca
Dear Mr. Cowan:
This is in response to your letter of January 23, 2020 in which you requested that I
consider the possibility of launching a systemic review of RCMP policing activity in
Nunavut. You also brought to my attention two incidents in which you considered that
the RCMP did not adhere to the strip-search guidelines set out by the Supreme Court in
R v Golden. You indicated that these incidents highlight your organization’s concerns
regarding the RCMP’s treatment of people in their custody, in particular, women.
My staff is currently identifying specific RCMP activities in Nunavut that the Commission
could examine, including the possible scope and methodology of a review. Due to the
present circumstances, the CRCC had to postpone a planned visit to the territory to
observe the circuit courts and meet with various stakeholders. However, this project will
resume once the current crisis is over.
The nearly completed CRCC review of the RCMP's Policies and Procedures regarding
Strip Searches should address some of your concerns related to the RCMP’s treatment
of people in their custody, including the Iqaluit Detachment. This review is a follow up to
our 2017 report on policing in northern British Columbia that you referenced in your
letter. The review examined the degree of the RCMP’s implementation of the 10
recommendations regarding personal search contained in the 2017 report. I anticipate
that report will be submitted to the Commissioner of the RCMP and the Minister of
Public Safety in the coming weeks. Once the Commissioner responds to the report’s
findings and recommendations, the Commission will issue its final report publicly.

…/2

P.O. Box 1722, Station B, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 0B3   C.P. 1722, succursale B Ottawa (Ontario) K1P 0B3

 -2 I remain committed to conducting a systemic review of RCMP policing activities in
Nunavut and I appreciate your continued interest and involvement.
Yours truly,

Michelaine Lahaie
Chairperson