1. These Rules may be cited as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Public Complaints Commission Rules of Practice.

2. In these Rules,

“Act”

“Act” means the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act; (Loi)

“Commission”

“Commission” means the member or members assigned pursuant to subsection 45.44(1) of the Act; (Commission)

“complainant”

“complainant” means any member of the public who makes a complaint pursuant to subsection 45.35(1) of the Act; (plaignant)

“complaint”

“complaint” has the same meaning as in subsection 45.35(1) of the Act; (plainte)

“hearing”

“hearing” means a hearing to inquire into a complaint instituted pursuant to paragraph 45.42(3)(c) or subsection 45.43(1) of the Act; (audience)

“hearing process officer”

“hearing process officer” means any person who is appointed in accordance with subsection 45.31(2) of the Act and who is authorized to act on behalf of the Registrar at a hearing; (agent d’audience)

“interested person”

“interested person” means a person who satisfies the Commission that the person has a substantial and direct interest in a complaint before the Commission; (personne intéressée)

“party”

“party” has the same meaning as in subsection 45.45(15) of the Act; (partie)

“record”

“record” means the whole or any part of any book, document, transcript, paper, card, tape or other thing, in or on which information is written, recorded, stored or reproduced; (pièce)

“Registrar”

“Registrar” means any person who is appointed in accordance with subsection 45.31(2) of the Act and who is designated as Registrar by the Commission Chairman. (greffier)

3. These Rules apply in respect of any proceedings with respect to a hearing conducted by the Commission in accordance with section 45.45 of the Act.

• 4. (1) The Commission may dispense with any of these Rules where the circumstances and considerations of fairness require such dispensation so that the hearing may be conducted informally and expeditiously.

• (2) The Commission, on its own initiative or on a motion that requests an extension or abridgement of a period in which an act is to be done, may extend or abridge the period where the circumstances and considerations of fairness require the Commission to do so.

• (3) Where the Commission dispenses with the Rules in accordance with subsection (1) or extends or abridges a period in accordance with subsection (2), the Commission shall inform the parties and interested persons forthwith.