RCMP Watch

(Toronto Star Editorial) - A human rights ruling in favour of a former RCMP cadet who suffered taunts and discrimination while at the force’s Regina training depot in 1999 should serve as a wake-up call to Canada’s national police.
In a decision this week, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found Ali Tahmourpour, who is Muslim, was [...]

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(CBC) - The Mounties could be paying more than $1 million as a result of a human rights ruling in favour of a Muslim Iranian-Canadian who faced discrimination at the RCMP Training Academy in Regina and was terminated.
The force must also give Ali Tahmourpour, 35, another chance at becoming an RCMP officer, and introduce changes [...]

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Sarah Scott, Macleans.ca
As the commander of the RCMP’s detachment in Merritt, B.C., Donald W. Smith was an old-school military guy, abrupt, even rude, a real straight talker. He barked orders. He swore like a sailor. That was fine in the old days, when men would jump when he ordered them to get things done. But [...]

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Ashifa Kassam, Toronto Star
What started as a simple request to wear a pendant containing passages from the Qur’an spiralled into a daily dose of harassment for a Muslim cadet at the RCMP training academy, the Canadian Human Rights Commission heard yesterday.
It was the first day of a tribunal examining Ali Tahmourpour’s complaint that he was [...]

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Globe and Mail
Inquest into the death of Ian Bush
• Houston, B.C., RCMP Constable Paul Koester shot Mr. Bush in the back of the head on Oct. 29, 2005, after he had been in police custody for just over 20 minutes. Mr. Bush had been arrested for obstruction.
Pension fund scandal
• Government-appointed investigator David Brown concluded that [...]

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Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star
Was it all worth it?
The years of RCMP foot-dragging, denials and career reprisals. Three months of embarrassing parliamentary hearings and finally a damning report on the RCMP’s mismanagement.
For the five RCMP employees who triggered it all, it’s a loaded question.
Outgoing RCMP Commissioner Bev Busson formally commended those five people with Commissioner’s Commendations [...]

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Jessica Leeder and Greg McArthur, Globe and Mail
Five whistle-blowers who jeopardized their careers trying to force the RCMP to investigate allegations of internal corruption, nepotism and mismanagement were quietly awarded the force’s highest honour in a closed ceremony this week.
Gathered with their families around a horseshoe-shaped table at an upscale Ottawa steakhouse Wednesday, the cadre [...]

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Jeff Sallot, Globe & Mail
The RCMP’s chief financial officer, Deputy Commissioner Paul Gauvin, has resigned in the aftermath of the Mountie pension-fund scandal.Mr. Gauvin was criticized in an independent investigator’s report last week for refusing to accept responsibility for problems in the administration of the RCMP pension and insurance plans.
Despite his resignation as chief financial [...]

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Tonda MacCharles, Toronto Star
Mounties would “welcome” more robust civilian oversight of the embattled national police force if that were what it takes to keep the trust of Canadians, Interim RCMP Commissioner Bev Busson says.
It is the first time the RCMP’s top cop has opened the door to accepting civilian oversight of the force’s activities that [...]

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The Harper Index, Golden Lake Institute
In opposition, Steven Harper and the Conservatives relentlessly attacked RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli as a Liberal appointee doing the bidding of the then government. In government, the Conservatives have muted their criticism and side-stepped demands for a public inquiry into problems with the force. Pension fraud, internal repression, bungled operations [...]

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