RCMP Watch

Bill Curry, Ottawa (Globe and Mail) - The relationship between the RCMP and Canada’s spy agency is ”almost unworkable” and must be dramatically changed, former RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli told the Air India inquiry Friday.

Speaking freely nearly one year after leaving the force, Mr. Zaccardelli said many of the problems that plagued the investigation into the 1985 bombing still exist today.

Mark Freiman, lead counsel for the inquiry, began his questioning by reminding Mr. Zaccardelli that the hearings have heard a ”plethora” of indications that the RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service have had significant challenges in working together.

”In your experience, up to the time you left your position as commissioner, had that changed?” Mr. Freiman asked.

”Fundamentally, no,” Mr. Zaccardelli answered.

The former commissioner was then asked: ”Can we leave the status quo as it is?”

”Absolutely not,” Mr. Zaccardelli replied.

The main issue since CSIS was created in 1984 – and even before when the RCMP had a separate but internal national security force – has been the lack of information sharing, he said.

The spy agency has interpreted language from the 1984 CSIS Act very narrowly, Mr. Zaccardelli said, which means the police often have a difficult time getting information that they need to pursue criminal investigations.

He also acknowledged that the RCMP has made ”a number of mistakes” in how it has managed the relationship.

”There is exchange of information, and good co-operation takes place, but the legislation and the policies around the legislation and the creation of CSIS actually forced the men and women of CSIS and the RCMP to work under a very difficult and almost unworkable regime. That’s the essence of the problem here. So the exchange takes place. But every time it was a laborious process. It was a very difficult and frustrating process for both organizations,” Mr. Zaccardelli said.

He said new legislation is required to make the two forces work better together and place both under a single governance body.

”I know you may have to use a bit of an autocratic style to make this happen,” Mr. Zaccardelli said. ”But sometimes to get things done, you do have to be a bit autocratic and force the issues and force the change of culture.”

Mr. Zaccardelli served as the 20th Commissioner of the RCMP from Sept. 2, 2000, to Dec. 15, 2006.He had been a member of the RCMP since 1970.