Update Info. & Hansard: Mr. Peter MacKay, RCMP Commissioner Zaccardelli & Hon. Anne McLellan

I have omitted something crucial. I posted this information on the Hells in this post, yesterday, ( Hansard: Peter MacKay on Security, A Tour of Criminality, Responses and a PR Gift to the Hells ) but it needs to be here, as well, to put these exchanges in perspective.



RCMP port probe findings a PR win for Hells Angels Vancouver Courier.com, Mike Howell-Staff writer

The Hells Angels motorcycle club doesn't control the Vancouver port or its unions, despite public and "police universe" perceptions to the contrary, says a high-ranking RCMP inspector. [. . . . ]

Do you believe this?

After you finish reading what is below, go to this poll.

Gun registry poll

Poll Results: Do you feel the gun registry is an effective tool for controlling firearms in Canada? -- go and vote

So far, well, you'll enjoy this.

Read on.



Note: I correct an omission from yesterday's post.

Yesterday's Hansard reference -- and more -- Commissioner Zaccardelli and Peter MadKay

Yesterday, apparently, I omitted a reference. This is it and I have included some more of our Hansard "Best Seller"

Note that while the powers that be deep-sixed RCMP Staff-Sgt Stenhouse, the drug activity exploded. It looks as though the government will play down the $20 billion activity instead of tackling it. Too late, the U.S. wants action and answers and are fully aware of the activity going on that is not being dealt with. All the huffing and puffing is not going to throw the U.S. off the scent. Do you not expect that the Senate National Security Committee is aware of what is going on at the Ports and so, too, is the Auditor General. The recent comments that have come from the Ministers may be issued in order to downplay the seriousness of the problem.

Just because politicians say there is no problem doesn't mean there is no problem; they just hope Canadians will believe them and go back to sleep.

Hansard: 1725 to 1731 -- Mr. Peter MacKay and Commissioner Zaccardelli of the RCMP

Mr. Peter MacKay: The question was about the backlog.

Hon. Anne McLellan: That's what the commissioner is going to deal with, because I think there's a misunderstanding around the use of terms like backlog .

Commissioner, I would ask you to respond to that question.

Some of the other questions that you've addressed, Mr. MacKay, in fact have been dealt with, certainly in relation to prison guards and equipment and the GRC in Quebec. I know this committee is probably going to be meeting some of the mayors, and that will be dealt with.

Over to you.

Commr Giuliano Zaccardelli: Thank you, Minister.

The Canadian DNA data bank is a world-class operation that's being modeled and examined by many countries around the world. We literally take a backseat to no one in the world in terms of the set-up, the operation, and the effectiveness.

There is no backlog in terms of DNA analysis. Every single major case that requires an emergency DNA analysis is done in this country and it's done within 15 days.

Every other case is negotiated and discussed with the police force or the agency that wants that done, and every single one is satisfied. There is a negotiation done, and if there is a reassessment of the case, it goes back into the priority system and they are satisfied. [negotiated? NJC]

I realize you're shaking your head, Mr. MacKay--

Mr. Peter MacKay: It's completely inconsistent with the information I have.

Commr Giuliano Zaccardelli: --but there is no backlog in the system. What we have is cases in process. There isn't one major case that is not done within 15 days. There is no country in the world that meets that standard.

The Chair: Thank you, Commissioner, and thank you, Mr. MacKay. [. . . . ]

(1731) [. . . . ]

Yesterday's Post -- Hansard -- including Link

Below is a copy of the Hansard excerpt posted yesterday. It is from the same url and sections as the above. All that was posted yesterday comes from Hansard BEFORE the above:

Hansard: 1725 to 1731 -- Mr. Peter MacKay

The Minister couldn't adequately answer in 3 years let alone 3 minutes since security has been more about smoke and mirrors and perception than about providing adequate security. As they bury the officers this week, notice the same tired old cliches will be repeated -- but no action. They keep telling us we're safe but they don't do the things necessary to make us safe.

Hansard: 1725 to 1731 -- Mr. Peter MacKay

Mr. Peter MacKay: --to ask you questions, of course.

I have to take issue with this suggestion that somehow closing detachments, nine in total in the province of Quebec, is consistent with increasing efforts towards drug enforcement.

In particular, I find it passing strange in terms of Joliette and Coaticook, which, as I understand it, were actually being very effective and had tremendous success in those rural areas, by making arrests, by in fact having busted up several major cannabis organizations within rural parts of the province. So I find it perverse that anyone would suggest that this reorganization was actually going to be for the greater benefit of rural Canada.

That said, I have some more questions with respect to prison guards. In particular, there was an issue that I found very disturbing in your home province, Madam Minister. That is, there was information leaked or obtained somehow by prisoners, private information about guards and their home addresses. It occurred at Kingston Penitentiary, Joyceville, and in Edmonton, as I understand it. What has been done to address this problem, and were there other security leaks?

[Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan is from Alberta. NJC]

I would also like to know about security intelligence reports. I've heard from several sources working within Correctional Service Canada that these reports, which many times have to do with serious incidents, go nowhere. They go into the ether after they've actually been tabled. There's no response; there's no action taken.

In once instance, there was a reference made to a senior official, if not a warden, saying that the problem was so big, we had to put a blanket over it and cover it up. That type of response does very little to instill public confidence.

The final question I have deals specifically with a commitment you made the last time you were here, which was that you would provide an explanation as to the huge backlog that exists right now with DNA cases in the forensic laboratories throughout the country. You told us that this issue, which is increasing, as I understand it, in terms of its seriousness.... There are over 1,700 cases with respect to the DNA backlog. The RCMP's reaction to this is to extend the deadline in terms of their ability to process this information, which causes a further backlog in the courts. I know, because I've had to wait on those types of forensic reports, and it causes a real delay.

Madam Minister, I know you can't respond to all of that in three minutes, but closing detachments, pulling back on front-line police officers, not giving prison guards protective equipment and the types of protective mechanisms they need, and not assisting victims doesn't seem consistent with the supplementary estimates and main estimates when you have this enormous white elephant of a gun registry that has proven to be ineffective, that has gone over 10,000 times its budget, that is not connected to public safety. If this is really a priority....

You say there are no simple answers. There are some simple answers here: can that registry and put the money where it's needed first and it will have a real impact on law enforcement and protecting the public in this country.