RCMP, Funding and Whistleblower Protection Legislation
*** Kevin Sorenson, an Alberta Conservative MP and opposition RCMP critic, said it was "rather ironic" the National Post story appeared the same day new whistleblower protection legislation -- which does not offer any protection to employees of the RCMP -- was debated in Parliament. "It is extremely troubling that the RCMP and CSIS employees are exempt from the protections afforded to other public servants who disclose wrongdoings, especially in light of these new allegations," Mr. Sorenson said. ***
*** RCMP Pension Fund money was improperly "used to maintain RCMP and Public Service workload, address work back-logs and deliver on a wide variety of initiatives." ***
OTTAWA - The RCMP said late yesterday that Canada's national police force will reverse $4-million in expenses that it improperly billed to its employees' pension fund since 2001 and Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli has asked the Ottawa Police Force to conduct an investigation into possible criminal wrongdoing.
[. . . .] It is the third time in as many years that the RCMP has been forced to call in an outside police force to conduct a criminal probe into its own members' conduct.
Last month, the RCMP and the Quebec Attorney-General asked the Surete du Quebec to investigate possible RCMP misuse of federal sponsorship money.
Two years ago, the RCMP also asked the Ontario Provincial Police to investigate a senior procurement officer who was later found guilty on charges of accepting a free trip from an RCMP supplier.
The RCMP also moved last night to reassure thousands of angry and worried police and civilian members across Canada and thousands more RCMP pensioners that it has the situation under control and that their pensions are not at risk.
[. . . .] "Action has been taken to reverse the improper administrative charges so these expenses are properly charged to the departmental appropriations. These charges over a period of three years amounted to approximately $4-million," he added.
"No funds are missing from the pension plan. The pension fund was never at risk," the RCMP officer added.
[. . . .] Kevin Sorenson, an Alberta Conservative MP and opposition RCMP critic, said it was "rather ironic" the National Post story appeared the same day new whistleblower protection legislation -- which does not offer any protection to employees of the RCMP -- was debated in Parliament. "It is extremely troubling that the RCMP and CSIS employees are exempt from the protections afforded to other public servants who disclose wrongdoings, especially in light of these new allegations," Mr. Sorenson said.
The 25-page secret audit, which a seven-member audit team delivered to Commissioner Zaccardelli last October, revealed that RCMP Pension Fund money was improperly "used to maintain RCMP and Public Service workload, address work back-logs and deliver on a wide variety of initiatives."
