A public commission of inquiry is an administrative tool used exceptionally by governments to inquire into and report on controversies of significant public importance. Such inquiries allow the public to better understand the complexities of a scandal or tragedy, but provide no ultimate accountability when criminal activity is at play. In Canada, the use of public commissions of inquiry to investigate corruption and collusion poses significant legal challenges from a constitutional division of powers perspective (between the federal and provincial levels of government) and with regards to the protection of the rights of the accused under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms . Typically, when criminal conduct is at the heart of the controversy, governments will wait for the completion of all investigations and prosecutions before launching a public inquiry into any remaining matter of public importance. However, the scale of a corruption scandal and the growing public demand for answers may be such that a government is left with no option but to launch a public inquiry immediately, even if there are serious risks of compromising criminal investigations and prosecutions. This paper discusses the legal difficulties associated with the creation and operation of public commission of inquiry into crime, corruption and collusion in particular, and presents a way forward in analysing the various measures that may be adopted at the onset and susbsequently at the operational level to minimize legal risks.

中文翻译：

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使用公众调查根除腐败和勾结——加拿大的经验

公共调查委员会是政府特别使用的一种行政工具，用于调查和报告具有重大公共重要性的争议。此类调查使公众能够更好地了解丑闻或悲剧的复杂性，但不会在犯罪活动发生时提供最终的问责制。在加拿大，使用公共调查委员会调查腐败和勾结从宪法权力划分的角度（联邦和省级政府之间）以及在保护被告权利方面构成了重大的法律挑战。加拿大权利和自由宪章。通常，当犯罪行为是争议的核心时，各国政府将等待所有调查和起诉完成后，再对任何剩余的具有公共重要性的事项进行公开调查。然而，腐败丑闻的规模和公众对答案日益增长的需求可能使政府别无选择，只能立即展开公开调查，即使存在妨碍刑事调查和起诉的严重风险。本文讨论了与犯罪、腐败和勾结的公共调查委员会的设立和运作相关的法律困难，并提出了分析在开始时和随后在运作层面可能采取的各种措施的前进方向。将法律风险降到最低。腐败丑闻的规模和公众对答案日益增长的需求可能使政府别无选择，只能立即展开公开调查，即使存在损害刑事调查和起诉的严重风险。本文讨论了与犯罪、腐败和勾结的公共调查委员会的设立和运作相关的法律困难，并提出了分析在开始时和随后在运作层面可能采取的各种措施的前进方向。将法律风险降到最低。腐败丑闻的规模和公众对答案日益增长的需求可能使政府别无选择，只能立即展开公开调查，即使存在损害刑事调查和起诉的严重风险。本文讨论了与犯罪、腐败和勾结的公共调查委员会的设立和运作相关的法律困难，并提出了分析在开始时和随后在运作层面可能采取的各种措施的前进方向。将法律风险降到最低。