Adoption of Bill 107: A law aimed at improving the efficiency and transparency of our institutions

QUÉBEC CITY, February 14, 2018 – The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, Martin Coiteux, highlighted the National Assembly’s adoption today of Bill 107: An Act to increase the jurisdiction and independence of the Anti-Corruption Commissioner and the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes and expand the power of the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions to grant certain benefits to cooperating witnesses.

Quotes:

Through this law, the government is acting on three recommendations from the Charbonneau Commission. The law will benefit the institutions that are central to fighting crime and allow the government to establish a committee to monitor UPAC’s activities, with members appointed by the National Assembly. This committee will be able to respond to the legitimate concerns of citizens while preventing elected officials from interfering with investigations.

– Martin Coiteux, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Public Security and Minister responsible for the Montréal region

Highlights:

• The government has strengthened the autonomy and independence of the UPAC anticorruption unit while also ensuring greater accountability, particularly through:
  • The establishment of a specialized anticorruption police force, subject to the Police Act.
  • The modification of the appointment process for the Anti-Corruption Commissioner, which will now be the same as the process used for the DPCP, as recommended by the Commission d’enquête sur l’octroi et la gestion des contrats publics dans l’industrie de la construction (CEIC).
  • The establishment of a committee to monitor UPAC, with a mandate to provide guidance on:
    • The administration of penal and criminal investigations carried out within UPAC.
    • Follow-ups to received complaints, except for those complaints that are the subject of an investigation or legal proceedings.
    • The annual management report from the Anti-Corruption Commissioner.
    • Any other question regarding the activities of UPAC.
• The mandate of the BEI is formally extended to allow the body to systematically investigate sexual offenses allegedly committed by police officers in the course of their duties.
• As recommended by the CEIC, the DPCP’s powers are expanded to allow for the granting of certain immunities to collaborating witnesses essential to criminal investigations and prosecutions, while clarifying the requirements for consultation, particularly with the relevant professional orders.