I heard on the CBC afternoon show that the Minister of Public Safety has announced the scrapping of the RCMP Complaints Commission and plans to replace it with something else. The first part could be good since it seems that the Commission does not seem to work very well for the public, and perhaps not the RCMP themselves either.
I haven't heard the details regarding the second part...has anyone else? That's what worries me, frankly. This government has very efficiently and effectively set up legislation and government bodies that foster the corporate model, that are right-wing in their approach and that are all about control (which sounds paradoxical but there you go). I don't particularly trust them so can't help but be suspicious about it.
Your thoughts?
RevMatt
Posted on: 06/15/2010 09:08
I heard some details last night, and the best description so far is cautiously optimistic. The new Commission will be completely independent, more properly funded, and given much broader powers. We might finally be getting what we should have had for quite some time. The interview I heard was on As It Happens.
Summary:
NEW RCMP OVERSIGHT
Duration: 00:07:29
Less bark, more bite.
Today the Conservative government announced a new civilian body to oversee complaints against the RCMP. The announcement follows through on a promise the government made earlier this year. The current oversight body -- the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP -- has been widely criticized as being a watchdog with no teeth, especially when it comes to investigating cases in which the RCMP has been implicated in unnecessary violence or wrongful death. One of the most persistent criticisms was that the commission depended on the RCMP when conducting investigations into wrongdoing. The new body -- the RCMP Complaints and Review Commission -- will be fully independent of the RCMP, and will have powers well beyond the current oversight commission.
That's something Paul Kennedy has been pushing for for several years. Mr. Kennedy is the former Chair of the current RCMP oversight Commission. We reached him in Ottawa.
What I heard on the radio this morning doesn't sound great...the new person heading the complaints procedure would be reporting to the Minister of Public Safety and, in order to begin his or her own investigation, would require authorization from the Minister. In my view, that takes any teeth out of the position. This person should be independent and reporting directly to Parliament. Without that, the position and the procedure is rather meaningless.
RevMatt
Posted on: 06/15/2010 12:01
Ah, missed that addition. Yes, that defeats much of the purpose, and sounds a lot more like what we are used to from this government.
Comments
Motheroffive
Posted on: 06/15/2010 01:04
I heard on the CBC afternoon show that the Minister of Public Safety has announced the scrapping of the RCMP Complaints Commission and plans to replace it with something else. The first part could be good since it seems that the Commission does not seem to work very well for the public, and perhaps not the RCMP themselves either.
I haven't heard the details regarding the second part...has anyone else? That's what worries me, frankly. This government has very efficiently and effectively set up legislation and government bodies that foster the corporate model, that are right-wing in their approach and that are all about control (which sounds paradoxical but there you go). I don't particularly trust them so can't help but be suspicious about it.
Your thoughts?
RevMatt
Posted on: 06/15/2010 09:08
I heard some details last night, and the best description so far is cautiously optimistic. The new Commission will be completely independent, more properly funded, and given much broader powers. We might finally be getting what we should have had for quite some time. The interview I heard was on As It Happens.
Summary:
Less bark, more bite.
Today the Conservative government announced a new civilian body to oversee complaints against the RCMP. The announcement follows through on a promise the government made earlier this year. The current oversight body -- the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP -- has been widely criticized as being a watchdog with no teeth, especially when it comes to investigating cases in which the RCMP has been implicated in unnecessary violence or wrongful death. One of the most persistent criticisms was that the commission depended on the RCMP when conducting investigations into wrongdoing. The new body -- the RCMP Complaints and Review Commission -- will be fully independent of the RCMP, and will have powers well beyond the current oversight commission.
That's something Paul Kennedy has been pushing for for several years. Mr. Kennedy is the former Chair of the current RCMP oversight Commission. We reached him in Ottawa.
Download that part of the show here:
http://www.cbc.ca/mrl3/8752/asithappens/aihstreaming_20100614_01.wma
Motheroffive
Posted on: 06/15/2010 09:51
What I heard on the radio this morning doesn't sound great...the new person heading the complaints procedure would be reporting to the Minister of Public Safety and, in order to begin his or her own investigation, would require authorization from the Minister. In my view, that takes any teeth out of the position. This person should be independent and reporting directly to Parliament. Without that, the position and the procedure is rather meaningless.
RevMatt
Posted on: 06/15/2010 12:01
Ah, missed that addition. Yes, that defeats much of the purpose, and sounds a lot more like what we are used to from this government.