Category: RCMP

RCMP’s decades-old Tommy Douglas files remain secret

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The RCMP was particularly suspicious of people associated with peace movements—and of political leaders willing to speak openly with people across the political spectrum. In the eyes of Canada’s security establishment, listening to dissenting voices and engaging opponents were not signs of democratic strength. They were grounds for surveillance. The irony is striking. The authorities treated Tommy Douglas as a possible threat largely because he practiced the openness, tolerance, and democratic engagement that Canada claimed to value.

BC Supreme Court finds racist RCMP acts violated Charter of Rights and Freedoms

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Award-winning Indigenous journalist Brandi Morin posted comments about Justice Michael Tammen’s findings in a court case that followed violent and racist actions by the RCMP. Police were serving as a security force for the oil and gas industry, which is just one more hidden subsidy governments provide for fossil fuels. An approaching climate crisis seems not to matter. Unfortunately, the findings of Justice Tammen are unlikely to change RCMP behaviour. The police force has a long history of ‘dirty tricks’ favouring oil and gas companies.

Not only cream rises to the top

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Senior RCMP management failed to deal with many harassment complaints and that is costing taxpayers plenty. A class action settlement originally thought to involve 500 victims and a cost of $100 million, may now include 4,000 female employees. The final cost will be substantial.

We don’t see nothin’ wrong

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In a May 2009 article, The Economist describes Vancouver as a distribution hub in a global drugs trade. It says gangs ship out cannabis, amphetamines and ecstasy made in BC, importing cocaine, heroin and guns, fighting over a business worth an estimated C$7 billion a year. “That they do so in broad daylight demonstrates the feckless response of the provincial government and police, despite reports dating back more than 30 years giving warning of the growth in organized crime. According to SFU criminologist Rob Gordon, the current effort at collaboration, led by the Mounties, is “riven with conflict.”

The doctor prescribes

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Few people have led lives more unique than Dr. Mike Webster. After success as a pro football player, Iron Mike earned a place in the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame. He then practiced as a clinical psychologist and worked frequently with police services. After Webster criticized its leadership, the RCMP first threatened, then dissociated him. That did not stop the psychologist…

Keep the same dance going

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Psychologist Dr. Mike Webster writes often about relationships between senior management and the men and women delivering police services in our communities. He knows about moral disengagement, which allows virtuous people to commit inhumane acts and Webster’s words can help us gain understanding…

RCMP should not stand for Secret State Police

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The CEO of Tides Canada issued a copy of his recent letter to RCMP Commissioner Paulson. If anyone doubted the once iconic police agency had become servant to rich industrialists and governing politicians, uncertainty was removed by its decision that a mostly foreign-owned industry needed protection from legitimate discussion of public policy by Canadians. There is an irony involved in the RCMP suggestion that a respected organization staffed and supported by people aiming to preserve the livable space of our nation is allied with extremist criminality.

Truthiness – UPDATED

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The bright minds at Kinder Morgan have re-refined advertising in their effort to build support for the inner harbour of Vancouver becoming a site for major bitumen exports. Now the tag line used is: “Committed to safety since 1953.” Of course, this remains fundamentally false since the Trans Mountain pipeline, built in the mid 20th century, was not acquired by Kinder Morgan until 2005. Previous pipeline operators may have been committed to safety but those people are long gone. Today, Kinder Morgan chooses not to stand on its own record across North America; they prefer to appropriate the reputation of Trans Mountain’s departed owners…