RCMP Watch

CBC News

The government has accepted all the recommendations from an investigation into the RCMP’s pension fund — a report that called for major changes to the force’s governance and culture, Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said Monday.

Day also agreed with special investigator David Brown, the former head of the Ontario Securities Commission, who rejected the idea of holding a public inquiry.
Brown launched an investigation following allegations that senior RCMP officers had covered up problems in the administration of the force’s pension and insurance fund.

“This is a time for action. We want to act on the recommendations of Mr. Brown’s report,” Day told reporters Monday.

Some MPs have called for a full-fledged public inquiry, arguing that one investigator is not sufficient to probe the matter.

Brown recommended appointing a task force of police, government officials and private-sector experts to look into the RCMP culture and governance to deal with a situation in which RCMP members were punished for challenging the prevailing management.

Day said Monday he will establish that task force to give the RCMP a “modern structure that can respond to everyday pressures — pressure from members and pressure from the public.”

Day said the task force will report to him by the end of the year.
Allegations of abuse

Earlier this spring, RCMP officers and staff told a parliamentary committee they had unearthed abuse in the management of the pension fund. They claimed that senior managers responded to their concerns either by punishing whistleblowers, or blocking investigations into the accounting irregularities.

In 2003, allegations were raised of nepotism in hiring, doubtful expense account claims and improper contracts in the $12-billion RCMP pension plan and insurance fund.

Brown said he found no signs of a coverup on the pension issue, simply mismanagement.

Day added that changes are needed to the RCMP Act when it comes to the process of how disciplinary and conduct reviews take place.

“There have been concerns expressed that there are times a conduct review in fact does not take place as it should because a certain timeline has passed,” Day said.

He also said the service records of people who brought forward their concerns should positively reflect their actions.

Shirley Heafey, former chair of the RCMP public complaints commission, said she agrees with Day that it’s time for action.

“There have been all kinds of discussions for the need for changes, but nothing has ever been done,” she told CBC News. “Talking about it and investigating year after year is not fixing anything.”

“Everything Mr. Brown said, he really hit the nail on the head. The government is in bad need of a change. Civilian oversight is extremely important,” Heafey said. With these things happening, if it really happens and it gets going, I think it will make a big big difference in the structure of the RCMP and the way it’s operating.”

But Liberal public security critic Boris Wrzesnewskj thinks a public inquiry is essential.

“They’re trying to control and manage this. And what’s very troubling about Mr. Brown’s suggestion is that this be done behind closed doors,” he said.

“How do we re-establish trust in the ranks of the RCMP and in the Canadian public if this process happens behind closed doors?”