The Protecteur du citoyen may conduct a criminal investigation in conjunction with any other (civil or administrative) recourse exercised by the complainant. This investigation may be set in motion if, for example, we see that a person is carrying out reprisal or is obstructing or attempting to obstruct our interventive action.
This investigation may lead to a general offence report to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP). The DPCP may issue a statement of offence and initiate criminal proceedings. Convicted offenders are liable to a fine of between $5,000 and $30,000. For companies, the fine can range from $15,000 to $300,000. Fines are doubled in the event of a repeat offence.
To find out more, see the Handling reprisal complaints page.
