CTV says the House of Commons public accounts committee is stunned by testimony from RCMP officers and will probably ask for a public inquiry. All members of the committe are agreeing they need judicial assistance after testimony Wednesday.

Graham Richardson of CTV news says,”deputy commissioner Barbara George has stepped down from her position as head of human resources for the RCMP on Wednesday but will move to another job.”

The committe has been holding hearings into possible misuse of millions of dollars in RCMP insurance and pension funds.

During their Wednesday testimony before a House of Commons committee, some current and former officers pointed the finger at former RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli, among others, for what they say is a coverup.

“While trying to expose these wrongdoings, which were both criminal and code of conduct violations, I had face to face meetings and complaints up to and including Commissioner Zaccardelli,” said Ron Lewis, a retired RCMP staff sergeant.

 ”I was met with inaction delays, roadblocks, obstruction and lies. The person who orchestrated most of this cover-up was Commissioner Zaccardelli.”

RCMP Chief Supt. Fraser MacAulay added: “For the past few years, the RCMP has had a small group of managers who, through their actions and inactions, are responsible for serious breeches in our core values, the RCMP code of conduct and even the Criminal Code.”

The officers alleged that Zaccardelli and others blocked investigations and removed some who were asking uncomfortable questions.

In blaming the leadership, Lewis said, “A culture was created by several senior executives where it was a danger for employees to report wrongdoings.”

Williams made the following observation to CTV News: “The orders from the top seem to be, ‘Stay quiet, don’t say a word, we’re the RCMP, we have to be clean or look like we’re clean’ – and they’re not clean.”

“The public accounts committee has to assess where we’re at and where we go from here,” Williams told CTV Newsnet on Wednesday.

In the November 2006 Report of the Auditor General of Canada, Sheila Fraser investigated allegation of abuse and mismangement of insurance and pension funds going back to 2003. So much for  maintiens le droit. Former commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli could not be reached for comment. It is expected he will be called to testify before the House committee, he’ll have to make himself available for a public inquiry. The RCMP is a national and federal police force, known world wide for their distinctive dress uniform and their motto, maintiens le droit.

(Tourism Saskatchewan)