What is an example of a Royal Commission?
Some royal commissions have produced significant reports. For example, the Rowell-Sirois report on federal-provincial financial relations, Massey on the arts and Laurendeau-Dunton on bilingualism and biculturalism furnished the documentation for continuing public debate and for some policymaking.
What can a Royal Commission do?
A Royal Commission is an investigation, independent of government, into a matter of great importance. Royal Commissions have broad powers to hold public hearings, call witnesses under oath and compel evidence. Each Royal Commission has terms of reference, which define the issues it will look into.
What are Royal Commissions law?
A royal commission is a type of committee appointed for a specific investigatory or advisory purpose. Royal commissions have fewer powers than public inquiries established under the Inquiries Act 2005. The Act gives statutory inquiries explicit powers to compel witnesses to give evidence.
What are Royal Commissions in Canada?
Royal Commissions and Commissions of Inquiry are official Government inquiries into matters of national concern. The Government tends to use these bodies for two purposes: to obtain advice concerning an important general problem; or to investigate a specific incident.
How do I start a Royal Commission?
The commission is created by the head of state (the sovereign, or their representative in the form of a governor-general or governor) on the advice of the government and formally appointed by letters patent. In practice—unlike lesser forms of inquiry—once a commission has started the government cannot stop it.
Is a Royal Commission legally binding?
A Royal Commission is not a judicial body and cannot prosecute. Findings made by a Royal Commissioner are not binding on any other body and have no authoritative legal vale.
Who can establish a Royal Commission?
A Royal Commission is formally established by the Governor-General on behalf of the Crown and on the advice of Government ministers. The government decides the terms of reference, provides the funding and appoints the commissioners, who are selected on the basis of their independence and qualifications.
What powers do commissions of inquiry have?
Specific Powers of a Royal Commission: Judicial Inquiry
- power to summons witnesses and take evidence (section 2)
- power to apply to a judge for a search warrant (section 4)
- power to compel a witness to give evidence, even if that evidence is self-incriminating (section 6A)
Who starts a Royal Commission?
the Governor-General
A Royal Commission is formally established by the Governor-General on behalf of the Crown and on the advice of Government ministers. The government decides the terms of reference, provides the funding and appoints the commissioners, who are selected on the basis of their independence and qualifications.
Can Royal Commissions phone tap?
coercive powers of investigation (e.g. ability to call and cross-examine witnesses, obtain evidence, rights of entry, phone-tapping) while also providing protection to witnesses and inquiry members from legal action such as defamation.
Is a Royal Commission a court?
It is important to note that whilst Royal Commissions have some of the appearances of courts, they are not courts and do not exercise judicial power.