(CTV.ca News Staff) – Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day’s announcement Thursday of a new panel intended to oversee reforms slated for the RCMP was quickly dismissed by rank-and-file police officers.
The creation of an RCMP Reform Implementation Council was one of the key recommendations of the Task Force on Governance and Cultural Change in the RCMP, which followed the RCMP pension scandal and allegations of corruption within the ranks.
Some Mounties who had complained about problems in the force were demoted or transferred, and many officers said they were afraid to speak out for fear of a backlash from the top. The council is supposed to make the force more accountable.
“It’s time to move on with changes, significant changes, that will bring this historic force well into the 21st century in terms of its capabilities and moving forward,” Day said at a news conference.
The council will serve in an advising capacity to Day as he oversees reforms to the organization. It will be led by former Alcan executive David McAusland, and will include Beverley Busson, a veteran Mountie who briefly led the RCMP in 2006 and 2007.
The Task Force on Governance and Cultural Change in the RCMP called for more independence from government for the RCMP as well as the creation of a civilian body to oversee the force. But the head of the Canadian Police Association questioned how independent the new council will be.
“You don’t put people who have caused the problem in charge — to bring out a new modernized RCMP,” Tony Cannavino told CTV Newsnet on Thursday afternoon.
“Where’s the part where the members will be protected? How can they come out and speak freely and announce any situation where they have been threatened. There’s nobody there. There’s no independent association … Why are they so reluctant or afraid to appoint on this committee a representative of the (RCMP) members.”
Cannavino noted that rank-and-file Mounties need the same protection to highlight abuses as other police officers in Canada.
But Day said the panel will help implement reforms with “independence and transparency, and McAusland said he wants to ensure that the Mounties will be better run in the future.
“My experience is that regardless of the type of organization you’re dealing with . . . excellence in management and excellence in leadership is driven by organizational excellence,” he said.
The council is intended to help RCMP Commissioner William Elliott as reforms are carried out, and regularly report to Day on progress.
Its first report is due by the fall, with the following report due in March of 2009.
I agree with you Get Real , and yes I don’t think it would different , regardless of the goverment of the day.
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Its called democracy, and if the turnout at the polls is any indication, not too many people seem to feel it should be radically changed.
What’s your alternative?
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That’s why it’s broken because they are all alike. It doesn’t matter who you vote in he’s not in control, is he?
If he doesn’t do it the way he’s told he will get it like John F. Kennedy did right in front of the nation and no one did a thing.
Believe waht you want but those guys are dangerous.
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As I have said before, these officers need a union, not the system they have now, not the minor association that represents a handful, but a union, period. A collective agreement that management cannot go back on, that addresses minimum shifting requirements, backup policy that is enforceable, promotional system implementation, etc. Until then top down driven change is an inevitable failure. Everything else is verbiage. With their bureaucracy the RCMP is a lot like the US Navy, if it ain’t movin’, paint it.
Don’t spend so much time and vehemence on the conservatives Benny, the Liberal hacks are no different. I am sure your little complaint would register the same with the loyal Opposition, the NDP and the Bloc. Zip.
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I agree . I do believe the RCMP has the mood for change , however fails to get the “Buy in ” for the top . I still maintain talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words . I believe that although Mr ELLIOT is the Commissioner and is striving to make change he is being stone walled by many of the Assistant Commissioners in the organization . Thats why they call it the old boys club . Brian ROACH , a national SRR did a news interview the other day and stated ” Members of the Force quite enjoy the program we provide” I don’t know , he must be talking to the ones in Ottawa , because the rumblings are loud and clear in the West the membership is not happy . Come on Mr ROACH , do a survey if you want the real answer.
As far as Mr Stockwell Day, I still believe a Public Enquiry was in order to clear the air and restore the public support of one of Canada’s National Treasures
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“You don’t put people who have caused the problem in charge — to bring out a new modernized RCMP,” Tony Cannavino told CTV Newsnet on Thursday afternoon.
Yes Zac said he didn’t transfer people who come forth but we all know he’s of the political school, deny everything even in the face of evidence to the contrary.
Instead of telling the truth hire a firm and pay them 25,000 dollars to coach you on how to get out of it – at least they should put someone in there that remembers what he says, as if.
Well Zac also messed up a few things in New Brunswick when he was commander there over seeing Majpr Crimes; one of them the Kings Clear case where all those boys were picked up even by an RCMP ranking Officer under the Hatfield Government and their lives were destroyed by homosexual acts to say the least.
Those boys needed help and not by those flute players but zac thought it best to see that they got off and later the RCMP Complaints Commission came in and help all of them with their final report.
Good old Zac knew how to do police work, I tell ya.
Ottawa was just the tip of the ice berg and yes they know how to hush things up.
I’d be surprised myself if any justice comes by this for anyone, it’s just not the way here in Canada and in the World right now but they do want us to believe it will be done.
When RCMP Chief Supt. Fraser Macaulay said he got transferred to DND ‘penalty box’ what did Zachardelli have to say about that whole statement.
Yeap he said that but I believe he was also stationed in NB – I don’t think this happened because they didn’t know eash other I guess MacAulay may have decided enough was enough and there was some kind of take down when Zac crossed the line and went into the members pention fund.
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““Where’s the part where the members will be protected? How can they come out and speak freely and announce any situation where they have been threatened. There’s nobody there. There’s no independent association … Why are they so reluctant or afraid to appoint on this committee a representative of the (RCMP) members.”
AND
““You don’t put people who have caused the problem in charge — to bring out a new modernized RCMP,” Tony Cannavino told CTV Newsnet on Thursday afternoon.”
A good sign everyone’s interests are being looked at and
being served is when there is a little complaining from all sides, from all individuals.
A good sign no one’s interests are being looked at and
no one is being served is when there is a lot of complaining from all sides, from all individuals.
I never knew just what a disaster this Day was until I got to deal with his office.
This thing is not going to work. It’s going to bog down the House with a lot of well justified Liberal and NDP objections and vocalizations, just as the U.S. and the rest of the world is heading into a recession, possibly a recession right up there with the worst we have seen in the past.
Now, the Conservatives with the help of Day and a very few bad people are going to distract everyone’s attention and the whole country away from much more important issues and topics for discussion.
If this is the way it’s going to go you guys, everyone start harping on what Zachardelli said. I am not sure the exact quote, maybe someone here can find it, but he said , and I’ll paraphrase it “The RCMP does not do punishment reassignments, I don’t do punishment
transfers”.
Did Zachardelli say that in his hearings? I am pretty darn sure I saw him say that. What does rank and file have to say about that statement from him?
When RCMP Chief Supt. Fraser Macaulay said he got transferred to DND ‘penalty box’ what did Zachardelli have to say about that whole statement.
“I don’t do punishment transfers”?
If the rank-and-file know different you better make your case now. You better lay it on the line otherwise Day and the panel will roll right over all of you.
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