In Canada, are you allowed to question the police about their service or conduct?
Quick answer: Yes, if you feel the need to. In our practice tests 73% of 106 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “Yes, you can question their conduct but not their service”.
Why is this the correct answer?
In Canada, citizens have the right to question police about their service and conduct. Police are accountable to the public, and there are formal complaint processes in every province.
Study Tip
In Canada, you have the right to express your concerns, but there are certain limitations to this right. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects your freedom of expression, but it also respects the authority of law enforcement.
What should you know about this topic?
Discover Canada explains that the police are there to keep people safe and to enforce the law. In Canada, you can ask the police for help in many situations, such as an accident, a crime, or when someone is in danger. There are different police forces: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) enforces federal laws across Canada and acts as the provincial police in most provinces, while Ontario and Quebec have their own provincial police, and many cities have municipal police.
An important point in the guide is that police are accountable to the public. If you have a concern about how a police officer behaved or about the service you received, you may question them. Discover Canada states that you can ask questions about the police's service or conduct if you feel the need, and that almost all police forces in Canada have a process for the public to make complaints. This reflects the principle that no one, including government officials and police, is above the law.
This topic connects to the rule of law, one of the foundations of Canada's legal system, and to the Charter rights that protect people in their dealings with authorities, such as the right not to be arbitrarily detained. In many other countries, questioning the police may be dangerous, so newcomers should know that in Canada it is a lawful and accepted right when done respectfully and through proper channels.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- Yes, you can question their conduct but not their service: This also wrongly limits your right; both service and conduct can be questioned.
- Yes, you can question their service but not their conduct: This wrongly limits your right; you can question police conduct as well as their service.
- No, police service and conduct is not open to discussion with Canadians: This is false; Canadian police are accountable to the public, and you may question them and make complaints.
What is the most common mistake?
Some learners choose an option that allows questioning only service or only conduct. In fact, Discover Canada says you may question both the police's service and their conduct.
How can you remember the answer?
Police are "public servants": if they serve the public, the public can question them, both how they serve and how they behave.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
73% of 106 practice answers from about 77 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "Yes, you can question their conduct but not their service", chosen 13% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 54th hardest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship chapter is 86% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship questions.
Practice This Chapter
Test yourself with questions from Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. Timed mock tests, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 33 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.