Home › Should RCMP Commissioner Stay or Go?
Should RCMP Commissioner Stay or Go?
The last few years have been quite turbulent for the RCMP. There have been a number of high profile cases that have “gone astray”….so to speak…such as the Airbus and Arar affairs. If you remember, during the last election, his blockbuster announcement related to the sponsorship scandal had a major impact on the political landscape.
Now RCMP Commissioner Zaccardelli is once again on the hot seat for some inconsistent comments as to what and when he knew about the false allegations against Maher Arar, the Canadian Citizen sent to Syria by US authorities based on false information provided by the RCMP.
Is this serious enough to merit Stephen Harper firing Zaccardelli? What do you think?
Cheers,
Nik
Remember to rate the views of others - to allow us to recognize the opinion leaders in our national conversation.
Individuals with the top ratings make it to Nik’s Leaderboard.
|
RSS feed
Most Read Comments
Highest Rated Comments
This is a very serious matter, the police agencies from municipal to federal hav... more
robini (Ontario) 06 Dec 12:19
Hello Nik; Letting Zaccardelli resign was to good for him...he should have been... more
blossom (Québec) 06 Dec 18:38
Well....that was a short topic. I think many Canadians were surprised at how qu... more
Nik Nanos (The Pollster) 06 Dec 20:38
Anyone with an appreciation of how command structure would agree that Commission... more
RonMacD (Ontario) 06 Dec 19:58
Yes, I agree, but the Liberals have nothing to fear because Canadians already kn... more
robini (Ontario) 06 Dec 16:05
Hello Nik; Letting Zaccardelli resign was to good for him...he should have been... more
blossom (Québec) 06 Dec 18:38
Comments
This is a very serious matter, the police agencies from municipal to federal have been taking a beating in the last few years. Corruption, scandals and brutality have been the cornerstone. Now the Commisioner of the RCMP giving false testimony. I do agree that the PM should fire him. But, with all due process. The Liberals have been notorious for firing people, and then feeling long drawn out court battles for wrongdoing and big money restitution.(Mr."I'm entiteled to my entitlements" Dingwall) for example. The opposition should take a deep breath, and relax until all legal avenues have been explored. Thus allowing the PM to dismiss the Commissioner legally and ethically, without a leagal backlash that will embarass our Government and cost us taxpayers in the end.
Thank You, Rob
06 Dec 12:19
3 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
PMK
I don't see the opposition holding it's breath. If memory serves, the RCMP's acknowledgement of an investigation of possible/potential leaks from the Finance Minister's office over the Christmas break was very damaging to the Liberals. One could argue that the RCMP's action re-inforced the air of corruption coming from the Sponsorship scandal and violated the Public Service's duty of non-interference in elections.
It will be interesting to see if the new Liberal leadership picks up on this, or if they let it go for fear of reviving the issue in the minds of Canadians.
06 Dec 15:53
Yes, I agree, but the Liberals have nothing to fear because Canadians already know that 13 years of botched environment file, social policy, and child care will follow them until the cows come home. We Canadians have long memories and will not let the Liberals forget. As for the resignation of the Commish, it is a step in the right direction for the RCMP. But this rambling on and on about the meetings between the Commish and Min. Day, are completely irrelivant, and have no bearing on anything. Now that he is resigned, lets get on with fixing Canada and get on with the work we elected them to do.
06 Dec 16:05
blossom
The only thing to do has been done.
What about Stockwell Day's dittering...this might prove to be interesting also?
The question is why was Mr. Zacardelli lying when he mistakenly gave false testimony,
and who is he protecting. Why did he give false testimony to the US authorities?
Perhaps some of us still do not realize the importance of this fact?
PM Harper was adamant about waiting for due process in this enquiry, yet, suddently
yesterday, his tuned changed to being quite mild? No?
The RCMP's Commissioner should not be a politically appointed candidate.
Since there is no-one to replace Mr. Zacardelli at the moment, I believe the suggestion
that an interim appointment should be made, until they can find someone who is going
to be competent, and accountable! The RCMP is old, and out-dated , and not very
reassuring with respect to our security, if, as Mr. Zacerdelli stated, there are a lot of
mistakes made....Should this even be possiblel? This is our Intelligence agency?
As far as I know, in this Country, one is still innocent until proven guilty, and not sent
to be tortured to another Country, as a first recourse! Once proved innocent, would it not
have been the first motion of this government to acknowledge his innocense, especially
since two months ago, it was proved that the RCMP had lied about the facts given to
the US. Lying is still considered a criminal act, in our Canadian Courts, and in contempt
of Court.
I worry more about our system, than I do about political parties, and who was to blame
then, than I do today, when I see that the onus is still on which party was more at
fault, rather than, the question today - what does it all mean, and why is Mr. Arar going
to civil court again, because although the issue is about what happened to him, and
recognizing his innocense with an acknowledgement from this PM, who is not yet
responding, and seems more of a polital by-partisan dispute.
As usual, the focus is on party disputes, and always difficult to get to the bottom of
any situation, because, a lot of those questionned would rather not respond if they wish to
to do so.
This was what is costing the tax payers...
Cheers,
Blos
07 Dec 15:21
blossom
Hello Nik;
Letting Zaccardelli resign was to good for him...he should have been fired, and at his first
deposition, which satisfied no one following this story.
The Geneva conventions (1948), etc... were brought about in order that we have conventions
of wars - human rights...It is proved that no amount of torture is going to fetch the truth.
I heard that Mr. Arar is sueing the government for $400,000. million $, and if a proper
apology from PM Harper had come immediately, it might have made a difference as to the amount.
Even after the report, Mr. Arar, is unable to fly to the US...Afterall, he was always, "just
a person of interest".
What about those in the RCMP who were rewarded after this? Should they have been,
and should they not also resign?
Blos
blossomf@videotron.ca
06 Dec 18:38
No replies yet. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
RonMacD
Anyone with an appreciation of how command structure would agree that Commissioner Zaccardellli was telling the truth when he testified there was no way he could have known what was going on until briefed by senior officers. He made an honest mistake and did what is expected of person in his position—he resigned. Maher Arar was a person of interest prior to al-Qaeda’s attack on the World Trade Centre; individuals do not become persons of interest by virtue of being Muslim. Ahmed Khadr, Chretien’s favourite terrorist, also claimed he was unjustly imprisoned. Under pressure from Muslim lobbyists Chretien managed to get him released while ignoring the plight of Bill Sampson another unjustly imprisoned Canadian under sentence of death in Saudi Arabia. Sampson only had his father to lobby on his behalf, militant Muslims have money the Looney Left to act on their behalf.
06 Dec 19:58
No replies yet. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
Nik Nanos (The Pollster)
Well....that was a short topic. I think many Canadians were surprised at how quickly this developed. It will be interesting to see what the next steps are....who will be the next Commissioner of the RCMP and how will the new Commissioner be selected. Cheers, Nik
06 Dec 20:38
2 replies so far. Join this conversationHide this conversation.
blossom
Nik,
There is no one inside the RCMP who is qualified, and the next Commissioner will be
elected by the PM. Therefore, since they are still understaffed, and no one, just as
Mr. Zacardelli was not entirely qualified, I believe that they will have to choose and
outsider. This story is not going to blow away quickly. Min. Stockwell Day is going to
have to answer for his delay in this matter also. The reason for the delay, is also very
important, as there are more facts of which none of us are aware of, as yet.
Cheers,
Blos
blossomf@videotron.ca
06 Dec 21:25
RonMacD
How could he not be considered not qualified for the job? Next we will be appointing former CEO's as generals of the Army.
07 Dec 08:17