Military police watchdog warns significant gaps remain in its authority

OTTAWA – The military police watchdog has told Parliament it still does not have the authority it needs to discharge its mandate, despite recent changes to the law.

The Military Police Complaints Commission says there remain “significant gaps” in its power to pry documents out of the federal government when conducting a public hearing or investigation.

The commission’s annual report was tabled before Parliament today.

Fighting with the Harper government over access to documents figured prominently in two high-profile cases over the last few years, including the protracted battle over allegations of torture involving Afghan prisoners.

The government’s refusal to hand over all of the records sparked a showdown in Parliament that almost defeated the Conservatives, who at the time governed with a minority.

The second case involved the refusal of National Defence to release documents related to the suicide of an Afghan veteran in 2007.