Campbell Clark and Daniel LeBlanc – Globe and Mail
Former RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli was an autocratic leader who punished whistle-blowers in the force’s pension-fund scandal and dragged his feet on launching criminal investigations, a government-appointed investigator has found.Lawyer David Brown concluded that the RCMP’s management is “horribly broken” and needs to be fixed quickly.
He called for a task force to find ways to revamp the force, limiting the absolute power of the commissioner and replacing its “paramilitary” command structure with checks and balances and real oversight by a review board.
Several Mounties have come forward to allege that top brass tried to cover up abuses and patronage contracts in the RCMP’s pension fund.
Mr. Brown said he saw no evidence of a deliberate cover-up designed to protect the abuses from coming to light.
But he blasted an iron-fisted Mr. Zaccardelli for allowing “soft landings” for those suspected of being responsible, while scaring off subordinates who sought stronger action and punishing whistle-blowers.
“He allowed a culture to exist – and grow – that displeasing the commissioner was career-limiting,” Mr. Brown said.
“The comments received and uncovered about Commissioner Zaccardelli paint a picture of a man who enjoyed the status and privileges of his office and who used those things to keep people at a distance.”
Key whistle-blowers were punished, and Mr. Zaccardelli only reluctantly approved a criminal investigation six months after he received the results of a damning audit.
But he did order that audit, and the problems inside the pension fund were not hidden, Mr. Brown said, so there was no cover-up.
“I think he felt that these people were causing trouble. I think Commissioner Zaccardelli felt that he had dealt with the issue, that nothing else was required,” he said.
“This stuff was right out there for everybody to see. Unfortunately, what they saw was not very robust action to deal with the issues.”
Retired staff sergeant Ron Lewis, who played a key role in bringing the scandal to light, welcomed Mr. Brown’s findings, except on the issue of a cover-up.
“To me it was a clear cover-up, no doubt in my mind,” he said.
Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said he will respond to the report Tuesday, but “so far I like what I’m seeing.
“The structure needs to be modernized,” Mr. Day told The Canadian Press.
“One person having supreme control and command without proper oversight is not a good situation for any organization,” he added.
However, Liberal and New Democrat MPs criticized Mr. Brown’s investigation as a “back-room process” that did not get to the bottom of the abuses or the potential cover-up, and demanded the government call a full public inquiry.
Mr. Brown argued that a public inquiry will find nothing more and only delay the restructuring of the force.
His report dealt chiefly with management’s handling of the scandal, rather than the pension-fund abuses themselves.
But he concluded that an Ottawa police criminal investigation was not independent from the RCMP, and called for the Ontario Provincial Police to review the file.
The scandal was uncovered inside the force in 2003, when human resources employee Denise Revine found improper spending in the pension fund.
Auditor-General Sheila Fraser later found that $3.4-million had been improperly spent on non-pension items, but later repaid, and that $1.3-million was paid for services that provided little or no value, or to hire employees’ relatives.
Ms. Revine’s post was later declared surplus, and her boss, Chief Superintendent Fraser Macaulay, was ordered reassigned when he brought her revelations to Mr. Zaccardelli.
An investigator, Staff Sergeant Mike Frizzell, was ordered off the case.
Yesterday, Mr. Brown recommended all three receive commendations.
Ms. Revine described that as a vindication of her five-year fight: “I feel like I can say, ‘That part’s behind.’ ”
In contrast, the man in charge of the pension fund, Dominic Crupi, and his boss, Jim Ewanovich, were allowed “soft landings,” Mr. Brown reported.
Both were relieved of their duties, but stayed on the payroll long afterward.
Mr. Crupi received his pay for another two years, and the RCMP helped him find a job with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
Mr. Zaccardelli resigned amid controversy in December.
But one senior RCMP official still in his post, Deputy Commissioner Paul Gauvin, the force’s chief financial officer, was singled out for harsh criticism because he refuses to accept any responsibility for the pension-fund fiasco.
Mr. Brown’s recommendations for restructuring the RCMP are aimed at whittling down the power of the commissioner. The force’s “paramilitary chain of command” management is not appropriate for a modern, $3-billion enterprise, he said.
In particular, he recommended the task force work out how a “challenge function” can be built, so officers can question their superiors without the risk of being labelled insubordinate.
The force also needs a policy to protect whistle-blowers, he said.
He also called for the creation of an oversight board – apparently something like the police services boards that oversee many municipal forces.
Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj welcomed many of the findings, but said it was a limited probe with no subpoena powers that did not get to the bottom of the alleged cover-up. He said only a public inquiry can ensure that none of the current top brass are tainted.
New Democrat MP David Christopherson echoed that call.
“You’re going to tell me that one person, a super-investigator, was able to come bouncing out of a phone booth and go in there and by themselves, get to the bottom of this in a few weeks?” he said. “It’s ridiculous.”
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How events unfolded
Early June, 2003 Veteran human resources officer Denise Revine discovers irregularities in the management of the RCMP’s pension plan. She relays her concerns over contract splitting, inappropriate hiring practices and misuse of funds to her supervisor, Chief Superintendent Fraser Macaulay.
June 17, 2003 Chief Supt. Macaulay briefs then-commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli on Ms. Revine’s findings. The Commissioner is unhappy. While he calls for an audit, he orders Chief Supt. Macaulay transferred to National Defence.
Nov. 23, 2003 Fearing a cover-up, Staff Sergeant Ron Lewis threatens to go public if there is no criminal investigation.
February, 2004 Ms. Revine learns that her position has been terminated. She fights back and eventually retains a job.
March 4, 2004 The RCMP ask Ottawa police to probe the pension fund scandal.
Mid-June, 2005 The Crown reviews Ottawa police findings and concludes there is no likelihood of conviction of anyone involved in the mismanagement.
June 20, 2005 RCMP Staff Sergeant Mike Frizzell, who is still investigating outstanding issues, is formally told to cease and desist.
June 27, 2005 Assistant Commissioner David Gork calls for additional internal investigations, stating that people deserved to be charged for their role. Commissioner Zaccardelli is not present, but through an emissary, makes his displeasure known.
July 20, 2006 Deputy Commissioner William Sweeney tells commissioner Zaccardelli people involved in the mismanagement breached the RCMP code of conduct, but the period has expired to initiate disciplinary action.
November, 2006 Auditor-General Sheila Fraser reports the RCMP pension fund was marred by nepotism and favouritism, resulting in the awarding of $1.3-million in wasteful contracts.
March 28, 2007 Five RCMP whistle-blowers tell their story to a parliamentary committee.
March 29 Under intense political pressure, the government orders an investigation by former securities regulator David Brown.
April 16 Mr. Zaccardelli, who resigned in December, appears before the public accounts committee to defend his handling of the matter. He denies punishing any whistle-blower.
June 15 Mr. Brown releases his report chastising Mr. Zaccardelli and praising Ms. Revine. When a reporter tells Staff Sgt. Frizzell the Brown report calls on the RCMP to publicly recognize his contribution, he utters one word: “Wow!”
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