Evaluation of the Canadian Forces Military Police Academy Summary

July 2024

1258-3-069 (ADM(RS))

Reviewed by ADM(RS) in accordance with the Access to Information Act. Information UNCLASSIFIED.

Program Overview

The Canadian Forces Military Police Academy (CFMPA) is the principal training centre for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Military Police (MP), equipping students with the necessary professional training, practical skills and competencies for their post-graduation duties. It offers both foundational and advanced courses to meet career-long standards and objectives for MP roles. Positioned within the Canadian Forces Military Police Group, the Academy operates under the command of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshall.

MP enforce laws and regulations on CAF properties domestically and abroad, serving CAF members, their families, civilians and cadets. Their key responsibilities include supporting CAF operations, investigating military or criminal infractions, implementing crime prevention strategies, community engagement and various policing tasks. The primary pathway to become an MP involves completing Basic Military Qualifications, followed by six months of training at the Academy. Depending on an applicant's education and experience, there are options for direct on-the-job training following Basic Military Qualifications.

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Evaluation Scope

This report presents the evaluation findings and recommendations of CFMPA from Fiscal Year (FY) 2019/20 to 2023/24 and is the first evaluation conducted on their training programs. This evaluation was identified in the Department of National Defence five-year Evaluation Plan (FY 2018/19 to FY 2022/23) and follows the 2016 Treasury Board Policy on Results. Its areas of assessment include:

• alignment with Department of National Defence/CAF commitments to diversity, inclusion and official languages;
• training design, delivery, efficiency and results; and
• initiatives toward modernization and addressing external recommendations (Justice Fish #66 and Justice Arbour #23).

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Key Findings

• CFMPA has experienced shortfalls in the quality of training, including those in support of official languages, diversity, digital learning and victim support.
• Training improvements following specific external review recommendations were largely implemented; however, specific requirements remain incomplete, and victim-centric training is ineffective.
• Stakeholder feedback suggests deficiencies in instructor expertise and availability at CFMPA, including the use of subject matter experts.
• CFMPA lacks well-established feedback channels to support continuous improvement and adaptation.

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Conclusive Assessment

CFMPA serves a critical role in preparing MP personnel for their unique duties within the CAF by instilling the highest standards of law enforcement, integrity and professionalism. Insights from the evaluation demonstrate that the Academy has maintained parity with other policing academies while supporting training modernization within budget constraints. It offers effective training in support of post-graduate taskings and is responsive to external review recommendations. Staffing shortages have amplified issues related to the quality of training delivered, including bilingualism, diversity, inclusion and the availability of performance-based information. Low awareness of mentorship programs and gaps in field, cultural and emotional intelligence training persist while course content redundancies, underused experts and educational modality imbalances have hindered training efficacy and may impact readiness levels. The effectiveness of victim-centric training remains an issue, highlighting the need for a cultural transformation and the further involvement of experts in this area to facilitate this training.