RCMP Watch

TheRecord.com

The Mounties might want to send one of their investigators to the RCMP office that approved the spending of almost $25,000 to prep former commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli for parliamentary hearings. Taxpayers might wonder if the office should be sealed off as a crime scene.

The sad truth is that this unbelievable payment is just the latest embarrassment in the embarrassing history of the way the Mounties dealt with Maher Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian. Arar was detained in the United States in 2002 then deported to Syria, where he was tortured. In a report he prepared on the Arar case, Justice Dennis O’Connor concluded that false information the Mounties gave to the U.S. about Arar being an Islamic extremist likely caused his problems.

That was bad enough, but what is even more bizarre is the way Zaccardelli conducted himself when he appeared at a parliamentary committee.

First, Zaccardelli told the Commons public safety committee in September he knew of the mistake shortly after Arar was sent to Syria. Then, in December he told the committee his first statement was wrong. He said he didn’t know until years later the RCMP had incorrectly labelled Arar a terrorist.

The commissioner didn’t explain his error, but, wisely, he quickly submitted his resignation, which was the honourable thing to do.

RCMP assistant commissioner Bernie Corrigan said the force hired McLoughlin Media to help Zaccardelli because its communication department lacks expertise in dealing with parliamentary committees. The company received $24,645 for its advice.

Perhaps the RCMP doesn’t have much experience in this field. But, come to think of it, the only preparation the former commissioner really needed was to be told to tell the truth. That advice could have been given to him for a lot less than $25,000.

The RCMP is one of the most honoured Canadian institutions. Regrettably, the Maher case and Zaccardelli’s testimony have tarnished the Mounties’ image.