OTTAWA – April 18, 2019 – Today, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, issued the following statement:

“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Charles Smith as Chairperson of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police External Review Committee (ERC). Mr. Smith’s five-year appointment will begin on June 18, 2019 when Interim Chairperson David Paradiso’s appointment comes to an end. Until then, he will assume the role of Vice-Chairperson, helping ensure a seamless transition between the incoming and outgoing Chairpersons.

Mr. Smith brings extensive legal experience to the position, including 30 years as a legal officer with the Office of the Judge Advocate General for the Canadian Forces. I wish Mr. Smith good luck with his new responsibilities.

I would like to thank Mr. Paradiso for his ongoing commitment and dedication to the ERC, including his previous appointment as Interim Chairperson and his many years as Executive Director/Senior Counsel for the ERC.”

These appointments were made under the Government of Canada's new approach to Governor in Council appointments. This approach supports open, transparent and merit-based selection processes that strive for gender parity and reflect Canada's diversity, to support Ministers in making appointment recommendations for positions within their portfolio by providing them with information and referrals.

The ERC is an independent administrative tribunal that conducts impartial case reviews and issues findings and recommendations for appeal decisions in certain RCMP employment and labour relations matters.