RCMP public complaints commissioner Paul Kennedy has found that it is safe to assume that the naming of Liberal Ralph Goodale in a criminal investigation during the 2006 election campaign influenced the outcome of the election in favour of the Conservatives. Goodale had been accused by the NDP of leaking confidential information prior to an income trust announcement that allowed others to profit. He was eventually cleared but long after the election.
The NDP had written to the RCMP wanting a criminal investigation into the rumoured leak. The RCMP replied there was an investigation being launched and then issued a press release a few days later to confirm what had already been made public and naming Goodale. This is not within the usual practise of the Mounties, especially during an election campaign. Breaching the practise was shown to have been a decision specifically made by Giuliano Zaccardelli, then commissioner of the RCMP, who has been subsequently sacked for other misbehaviour.
While the action breached past practises, it didn’t break any rules. Kennedy has called for strict guidelines to be developed for similar situations and for them to be strongly enforced. Zaccardelli refused to cooperate with Kennedy’s investigation so any rationale for his decision wasn’t available to be reported on.
It is not hard to guess that Zaccardelli knew exactly what he was doing in naming a federal cabinet minister and linking him to a criminal investigation in the midst of an election campaign. It is the type of opening any politician is looking for and would pounce on. The public are left to make their own judgement call and are likely to error on the side of caution by dropping support for the party that person is in, in this case the Liberals. And that is exactly what happened.
Without reasonable proof and evidence sufficient to actually lay charges, names should never have been brought into the public domain. Our national police force apparently needs a leash or two applied. Sooner rather than later.
notice: The content of this post contains my opinions and my right to express them. I will respect your right to express your opinion in the comments as long as you’re not abusive and you respect my right to my opinion.
