Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Zaccardelli's Kiss of Death
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security gave RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli the kiss of death today with their overwhelming dissatification of Zaccardelli's explanation for his recanted testimony with respect to the Arar case.
The Commissioner's back peddling was variously described by committee members as perjury, incompetent, or incredulous. Outside the committee, ex-Commissioner for Public Complaints Against the RCMP, Shirley Heafey referred to Zaccardelli as a "walking disaster" for the past six years.
Commissioner Zaccardelli now has the option to immediately retire from the RCMP or be fired. There are no other alternatives. He has lost, not just the confidence of the Standing Committee, but that of the Canadian public. However, in Zaccarelli's defence, those in the RCMP who knew of the facts surrounding the Arar case and chose not to fully inform the Commissioner, should also be fired.
A Commissioner of the RCMP must be ethical, demonstrate integrity, and uphold the reputation of the RCMP. Commissioner Zaccardelli has failed on all three counts and must go sooner than later. How he wishes to leave the RCMP is his decision.
The Commissioner's back peddling was variously described by committee members as perjury, incompetent, or incredulous. Outside the committee, ex-Commissioner for Public Complaints Against the RCMP, Shirley Heafey referred to Zaccardelli as a "walking disaster" for the past six years.
Commissioner Zaccardelli now has the option to immediately retire from the RCMP or be fired. There are no other alternatives. He has lost, not just the confidence of the Standing Committee, but that of the Canadian public. However, in Zaccarelli's defence, those in the RCMP who knew of the facts surrounding the Arar case and chose not to fully inform the Commissioner, should also be fired.
A Commissioner of the RCMP must be ethical, demonstrate integrity, and uphold the reputation of the RCMP. Commissioner Zaccardelli has failed on all three counts and must go sooner than later. How he wishes to leave the RCMP is his decision.
Labels: accountability, ethics, RCMP
