Canada

As it "cuts into" the RCMP's powers and responsibilities. This is #1 on the list of the Security Apparatuses mandate: "increase power and budget", Canada's security be damned. The RCMP play the game better than anyone, CSIS a close second. Neither scream confidence to our allies. Neither scream trustworthy to Canadians. This bill will cost the RCMP financially in the long run. Cost savings works for me, it doesn't work for those who have already to date logged $350k in OT to investigate the Ottawa shootings according to the CBC.

Some of the former PM's speaking out on these powers such as Jean C is laughable on a good day, after all, his relationship with Zaccardelli is well documented by authors who have a long history of writing about the RCMP. The Liberal party was rewarded for this loyalty to the RCMP (and the RCMP loyalty to the Liberals) with a stab in the back. Zacardelli somehow lands a prestigious job with INTERPOL after resigning in disgrace for the $12M taxpayer funded payout after the Arar Affair. How is that possible? He might have upset some Liberals, but seems he made some new friends on the other side of the aisle. Do some research on the scandals on his watch, I have no special inside knowledge, I have just learned to read about CSIS and the RCMP from well known mainstream books.

The RCMP caused harm to the Liberal party just before the 2006 election when they publicly named Finance Minister Goodale in a criminal report. Similar to what the OPP did just before the Ontario election last year but I digress:

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Zaccardelli+told+staff+drop+2005+election+bombshell/412672/story.html


I respect men and women in uniform. They are identifiable and at least somewhat accountable. Undercovers? The worst abusers of Canadians Rights, the least truthful and most damaging to the Canadian "brand". CSIS carries the torch high on this after the fall of the RCMP in 1984. Same old same old; bureaucrats and too many lifetimers who care mainly about mandate #1 on their list.

If Paulson really and truly cares about Canadian Rights, democracy and transparency, why doesn't Paulson talk actively about civilian oversight of the RCMP as was recommended many times in the past? Ditto for CSIS and Michel Coulombe. These men do not want such silly ideals as Human Rights and accountability to ruin their efforts (cough cough).

As for Bill C-51 itself, I am willing to concede certain powers to these agencies, but only if there is an equal increase in oversight and accountability. Blaney and some of the other schleps in the apparatus like to suggest that other Western countries already have these powers but he conveniently fails to state that these countries also have far better oversight. SIRC is not oversight, CSIS has already misled them, what can the SIRC do about it? Not a damned thing.