Editing Royal Canadian Mounted Police (section)

====2020s====
In February 2020, The RCMP again enforced the injunction, leading to further arrests and escalating tensions. Rail blockades and other disruptions occurred across the country in support of the Wet’suwet’en. There was widespread condemnation across Canada of the surveillance tactics employed by the RCMP. During one protest, two journalists were arrested by the RCMP during the protests, prompting an investigation by the federal government.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Public Safety |date=2022-05-05 |title=Coastal Gaslink Pipeline Protests |url=https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/trnsprnc/brfng-mtrls/prlmntry-bndrs/20211207/14-en.aspx?wbdisable=true |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=www.publicsafety.gc.ca}}</ref> The RCMP was further criticized when video footage of officers breaking into the homes of Wet'suwet'en community members and pointing weapons at peaceful protesters surfaced on youtube.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNrfVqQ2Tlk |title=Wet'suwet'en Invasions {{!}} Investigates |date=2022-04-29 |last=APTN News |access-date=2025-01-19 |via=YouTube}}</ref> In audio recordings played in the B.C. supreme court, RCMP officers referred to First Nations opposed to gas pipelines as "orcs" and "ogres".<ref>{{Cite news |last=McKay |first=Jackie |date=Jan 17, 2024 |title=RCMP officers mocked people being arrested at Wet'suwet'en blockade as 'orcs' and 'ogre' |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/rcmp-audio-wetsuweten-coastal-gaslink-1.7086861 |work=CBC}}</ref>

On March 10, 2020, Chief [[Allan Adam]] of the [[Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation]] was arrested by two RCMP officers in [[Fort McMurray]], Alberta.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=nytaa>{{Cite news |last1=Porter |first1=Catherine |last2=Bilefsky |first2=Dan |date=June 13, 2020 |title=Video of Arrest of Indigenous Leader Shocks Canada |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/world/canada/Allan-Adam-athabasca-police.html |access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref> After several minutes of Chief Adam yelling and posturing at officers, the officers tackled him and punched him in the head whilst struggling with him on the ground. Chief Adam was later charged with resisting arrest and assaulting a peace officer, but the charges were subsequently dropped.<ref>{{Cite news|last=[[The Canadian Press]]|date=June 24, 2020|title=Charges dropped against First Nations Chief Allan Adam in violent arrest|work=[[CBC News]]|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/allan-adam-athabasca-chipewyan-first-nation-arrest-rcmp-assault-1.5624976|access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref> After watching the video of the arrest, Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] said, "[w]e have all now seen the shocking video of Chief Adam's arrest and we must get to the bottom of this".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cecco|first=Leyland|date=June 12, 2020|title=First Nations chief shown being punched by Canadian police in video|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/12/canadian-police-punch-first-nations-chief-canada-video-chief-allan-adam|access-date=June 12, 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|last=Tunney|first=Catharine|date=June 12, 2020|title=Trudeau has 'serious questions' after watching video of Chief Adam's arrest|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-adam-arrest-video-1.5609446|access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=June 11, 2020|title=Full dashcam video of Chief Allan Adam's arrest|url=https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1749767747520|website=CBC News}}</ref> Following the revelation of Chief Adam's arrest—as well as several other recent instances in which RCMP officers had assaulted or killed Indigenous people<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 13, 2020|title=Chantel Moore's family calls for justice, public inquiry during healing walk|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/healing-walks-chantel-moore-1.5610194|access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref>—RCMP Commissioner [[Brenda Lucki]] stated, after initially demurring on the question, that [[systemic racism]] exists in the RCMP: "I do know that systemic racism is part of every institution, the RCMP included", she said.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tasker|first=John Paul|date=June 12, 2020|title=Systemic racism exists in the RCMP, Commissioner Brenda Lucki says|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/brenda-lucki-systemic-racism-rcmp-1.5610355|access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref> One day earlier, Trudeau had also stated that "[s]ystemic racism is an issue right across the country, in all our institutions, including in all our police services, including in the RCMP."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tunney|first=Catharine|date=June 11, 2020|title=Systemic racism exists in RCMP, Trudeau argues – after commissioner says she's 'struggling' with the term|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-systemic-racism-lucki-trudeau-1.5607622|access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref>

RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson was killed while responding to the [[2020 Nova Scotia attacks|Wortman killing spree]] that left 23 dead in [[Nova Scotia]] in April 2020. The political furor that followed engulfed Commissioner Brenda Lucki and her minister, [[Public Safety Minister]] [[Bill Blair (politician)|Bill Blair]].<ref name="ctcbc">{{cite news |last1=Tunney |first1=Catharine |title=Top Mountie denies claim she interfered in N.S. shooting investigation |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/blair-lucki-nova-scotia-shooting-gun-control-1.6496511 |publisher=CBC |date=June 21, 2022}}</ref> The RCMP was strongly criticized for its response to the attacks, the deadliest rampage in Canadian history,<ref name="AP">{{cite news |last=Gillies |first=Rob |url=https://apnews.com/7c9a33ae52420e0ddbfb5275898a7e79 |title=16 killed in shooting rampage, deadliest in Canadian history |date=April 19, 2020 |access-date=April 19, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419202425/https://apnews.com/7c9a33ae52420e0ddbfb5275898a7e79|archive-date=April 19, 2020|website=AP News}}</ref> as well as their lack of transparency in the criminal investigation. [[CBC News]]' television program ''[[The Fifth Estate (TV program)|The Fifth Estate]]'' and online newspaper ''[[Halifax Examiner]]'' analyzed the timeline of events, and both observed a myriad of failures and shortcomings in the RCMP response.<ref name=TheFifthEstate>{{cite news|url=https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/nova-scotia-shooting-13-deadly-hours|title=13 deadly hours|publisher=CBC News|last1=McMillan|first1=Elizabeth|last2=Mayor|first2=Lisa|date=November 22, 2020|access-date=November 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Growing criticism over how Nova Scotia RCMP warned public about killer|url=https://globalnews.ca/video/6850607/growing-criticism-over-how-nova-scotia-rcmp-warned-public-about-killer/|publisher=Global News|date=April 21, 2020|access-date=November 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='An epic failure': The first duty of police is to preserve life; through the Nova Scotia massacre, the RCMP saved no one|url=https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/an-epic-failure-the-first-duty-of-police-is-to-preserve-life-through-the-nova-scotia-massacre-the-rcmp-saved-no-one/|publisher=Halifax Examiner|last=Palango|first=Paul|date=July 18, 2020|access-date=November 24, 2020}}</ref> A criminologist criticized the RCMP's response as "a mess" and called for an overhaul in how the agency [[Active shooter training|responds to active shooter]] situations, after they had failed to properly respond to other such incidents in the past.<ref name=Global.Aftermath>{{cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7514276/nova-scotia-shooting-victim-families-struggle-heal/|title=Emotional aftermath: families of victims in Nova Scotia shooting struggle to heal|publisher=Global News|last1=Leffler|first1=Brennan|last2=Lord|first2=Ross|date=December 12, 2020|access-date=December 14, 2020}}</ref>

In the early 2020s, several governments, politicians, and scholars recommended terminating the RCMP's contract policing program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2022/08/11/the-rcmp-has-an-important-role-to-play-one-that-shouldnt-include-functioning-as-a-provincial-police-force.html|title=The RCMP has an important role to play – one that shouldn't include functioning as a provincial police service|access-date=August 13, 2022|website=Toronto Star|author=Wally Oppal|date=August 11, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/rcmp-mcadam-new-brunswick-police-1.6497599|title=McAdam's impatience with Mounties a sign N.B. should rethink reliance on RCMP, profs say|access-date=August 13, 2022|website=CBC News|author=Aidan Cox}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/trnsprnc/brfng-mtrls/trnstn-bndrs/20191120/013/index-en.aspx|title=Contract Policing|access-date=July 10, 2022|website=Government of Canada Briefing Book for the Minister of Public Safety Canada|date=March 18, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-racism-report-committee-1.6068970|title=Ottawa should explore removing Mounties from communities, MPs suggest|access-date=July 10, 2022|website=CBC News}}</ref> Public Safety Minister [[Marco Mendicino]] was mandated to conduct a review of RCMP contract policing when he took office in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/rcmp-mcadam-new-brunswick-police-1.6497599|title=McAdam's impatience with Mounties a sign N.B. should rethink reliance on RCMP, profs say|access-date=July 10, 2022|website=CBC News}}</ref>

In June 2021, Privacy Commissioner of Canada [[Daniel Therrien]] found that the RCMP had broken Canadian privacy law through hundreds of illegal searches using [[Clearview AI]].<ref name=clearview>{{Cite news|last=Boutilier|first=Alex|date=June 8, 2021|title=RCMP broke privacy laws in using controversial Clearview AI facial recognition tools, watchdog says|work=[[Toronto Star]]|url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/06/10/rcmp-broke-privacy-laws-in-using-controversial-clearview-ai-facial-recognition-tools-watchdog-says.html|access-date=June 8, 2021}}</ref>

In February 2022, four men were arrested near [[Coutts, Alberta]], for their roles in an [[2022 alleged plot to kill Coutts RCMP officers|alleged conspiracy to kill RCMP officers]] during the [[Canada convoy protest]].<ref name=":22">{{Cite news |last=Tait |first=Carrie |date=September 7, 2022 |title=RCMP used undercover operatives, emergency wiretaps to target border blockade in Coutts, Alta.: court docs |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-rcmp-emergency-wiretaps-coutts-blockade/ |access-date=December 2, 2022}}</ref>
[[File:Queen Elizabeth II Funeral 19 09 2022-14 (52369485536).jpg|thumb|left|RCMP members leading the funeral procession during the [[Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II|state funeral for Elizabeth II]] in [[London]], 2022.]]
On September 19, 2022, the RCMP led the procession through London, England, following the [[Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II|state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II]] due to the long-standing special relationship with the Queen.<ref>{{cite web |title=The special role the Canadian Mounties played in Queen Elizabeth II's funeral |website=ctvnews.ca |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/the-special-role-the-canadian-mounties-played-in-queen-elizabeth-ii-s-funeral-1.6074444 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919185407/https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/the-special-role-the-canadian-mounties-played-in-queen-elizabeth-ii-s-funeral-1.6074444}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Queen's funeral: Full guide to the gun carriage and the main procession |website=bbc.com |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62941422 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919145726/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62941422}}</ref>

In 2023, the Mass Casualty Commission recommended that the RCMP replace its Depot-based training regime with a more intensive university-style program and that the federal public safety minister review the RCMP's involvement in contract policing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/key-recommendations-of-nova-scotia-mass-shooting-inquiry|title=Key recommendations of Nova Scotia mass shooting inquiry|website=National Post}}</ref> Later that year, the force established a new direct-entry program for federal policing candidates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-federal-policing-frontline-flynn-1.6950735|title=RCMP federal policing recruits could soon skip Regina training depot, frontline policing|website=CBC News}}</ref> Those recruited for the program will be required to complete a shorter, more focussed 14-week training curriculum in Ottawa before being posted to a federal policing position.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcmp.ca/en/careers/become-police-officer-with-federal-policing-welcome-federal-policing-recruit-development-program|title=Become a police officer with Federal Policing|website=RCMP}}</ref> As of 2024, the implementation is suspended due to concerns raised by unions.<ref>https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/rcmp-ordered-to-halt-federal-policing-pilot-project</ref>

In the early 2020s, the cities of [[Surrey, British Columbia]], and [[Grande Prairie]], [[Alberta]], both established independent municipal police forces to replace the RCMP. In the wake of these decisions, and similar moves by the governments of [[Alberta]] and [[Saskatchewan]] to establish supplementary provincial police services to support (and, according to some critics, eventually replace) the RCMP, Commissioner Mike Duheme indicated that the RCMP was learning how to better manage transitions to local policing from contract policing.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-rcmp-ready-to-facilitate-end-of-contract-policing-commissioner/ | title=RCMP ready to facilitate end of contract policing: Commissioner - The… | newspaper=The Globe and Mail | date=August 18, 2024 | access-date=September 1, 2024 | archive-date=August 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20240819104053/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-rcmp-ready-to-facilitate-end-of-contract-policing-commissioner/ | url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> Similar transitions have been proposed, debated, or approved in some Alberta First Nations, rural [[Manitoba]], and rural [[New Brunswick]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/rcmp-nb-complaints-part-one-1.7373149|title='Everything is on the table,' Fundy Shores mayor says as communities question RCMP service|website=CBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://cornwallis.municipalwebsites.ca/ckfinder/connector?command=Proxy&lang=en&type=Files&currentFolder=%2F&hash=c245c263ce0eced480effe66bbede6b4d46c15ae&fileName=2022%20Annual%20Report.pdf|title=Cornwallis Police Board Annual Report - 2022|website=Rural Municipality of Cornwallis}}</ref>