Sep 16 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — Canada’s ethics commissioner has ordered nine senior officials — including two Liberal cabinet ministers and the chief of the defence staff — to have no official dealings with Palantir executive David MacNaughton for one year after his office found the former ambassador and Liberal adviser broke the Conflict of Interest Act. Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion […]
Sep 12 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — The RCMP has flagged ways to tighten its security protocols in response to the Cameron Ortis espionage case — but not one of those changes has been implemented in the year since his arrest. Ortis, who is still awaiting trial, served as director general of the RCMP’s national intelligence co-ordination centre. He was arrested on […]
Aug 30 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — The RCMP’s watchdog has flagged a number of ways in which the RCMP has bungled past investigations on cases ranging from mental health calls to fatal car accidents. The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission recently posted online summaries of its probes into allegations of Mountie misconduct — part of the CRCC’s commitment to greater transparency. […]
Aug 2 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — As police services everywhere cope with public pressure over their use of force policies, the RCMP is reporting that just one per cent of the more than 3,000 allegations it’s received about improper use of force over the past five years turned out to be founded. “Out of the thousands of interactions that RCMP members […]
Jul 31 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — The case against the senior RCMP official accused of preparing to leak sensitive information is moving to Federal Court for a special hearing to determine how the trial can proceed while protecting classified intelligence. Cameron Ortis, who served as director general of the RCMP’s national intelligence co-ordination centre, is charged with violating the Security of […]
Jul 24 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — The head of the RCMP’s independent watchdog says the national police force isn’t listening to the recommendations her agency has made over the past few years regarding Mounties’ behaviour on wellness calls. Earlier this week, Michelaine Lahaie, chair of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC), issued a statement citing a “general […]
Jul 16 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — A Russian-backed hacking group has tried to steal COVID-19-related vaccine research in Canada, the U.K. and the U.S., according to intelligence agencies in all three countries. The Communications Security Establishment (CSE), responsible for Canada’s foreign signals intelligence, said APT29 — also known as Cozy Bear and the Dukes — is behind the malicious activity. The […]
Jul 12 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — Former public safety minister Ralph Goodale says a bill now stalled in the House of Commons could be augmented to improve RCMP oversight — a suggestion that comes as calls to reform the national police force increase. The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (the CRCC) is the outside body tasked with reviewing […]
Jul 3 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — The Canadian Armed Forces member who allegedly gained access to the grounds at Rideau Hall while carrying a firearm Thursday morning now faces a long list of charges. The RCMP said Corey Hurren, 46, faces 22 criminal charges, including careless use of a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of a prohibited or restricted […]
Jun 27 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — The federal government is taking a closer look at the RCMP’s contract policing obligations — a review taking on new relevance as calls mount to reallocate police budgets across North America. During testimony in front of a House of Commons meeting earlier this week — and against a backdrop of recent allegations of racism and […]
Jun 25 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today floated the idea of bringing in national standards and reopening the Canada Health Act to address some of the vulnerabilities the pandemic has exposed in long-term care homes — while accusing provincial governments of having “failed to support seniors.” His comments came after the Canadian Institute for Health Information released […]
Jun 17 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — RCMP officers have pointed guns at individuals more than 5,000 times over the past three years. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police today released a use-of-force breakdown that shows the use of firearms is the RCMP’s most common recorded intervention tactic. The report was released as calls mount around the world for fundamental policing reform in […]
Jun 11 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today the RCMP and other police agencies across the country have a problem with systemic racism — a day after RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki said she’s “struggling” with the term and denied racism is entrenched within the organization. “Systemic racism is an issue right across the country, in all our […]
Jun 8 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — The head of the RCMP says her organization will begin the work of outfitting some of its officers with body cameras — a move that comes in the midst of a global wave of mass protests against police brutality. “The commissioner has confirmed that the RCMP will engage in work and discussion with policing partners […]
Jun 7 2020 — Catharine Tunney — CBC — The RCMP continues to mull over a number of high-profile investigations completed by its watchdog body involving allegations of Mountie misbehaviour — ultimately stalling their release and raising questions about the effectiveness of public oversight. “Ultimately, it undermines the legitimacy of the force when individuals don’t get answers to the complaints that they have,” said […]