Re. Fadden - So Zaccardelli was wrong too?

Organised Crime Influence on Politics

Ottawa Citizen
Friday 8 September 2000
(4) Mobsters target Parliament, RCMP commissioner says
Aim is to 'corrupt, destabilize' system

Tim Naumetz
The Ottawa Citizen

Organized crime mobs are targeting Parliament and other Canadian institutions in an attempt to spread corruption and political instability, says the new head of the RCMP.

During a remarkably candid news conference, Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli said yesterday that criminal groups are focusing on Parliament, the courts and other institutions with the aim of "destabilizing" the political system.

"For the first time in this country, we are seeing signs of criminal organizations that are so sophisticated that they actually are focusing on destabilizing certain aspects of our society," said Commissioner Zaccardelli. The commissioner is a 30-year veteran of the RCMP who was previously the force's deputy commissioner in charge of the fight against organized crime.

"That's a real threat to us. There are criminal organizations that target this destabilization of our parliamentary system."

Commissioner Zaccardelli's comments shocked MPs, who said the commissioner should inform the House of Commons, through Speaker Gilbert Parent, if the RCMP has evidence of political corruption or attempts to corrupt politicians.

Asked if he could cite cases where criminals have targeted politicians or whether he was "fearmongering," Commissioner Zaccardelli replied: "It's not fearmongering in the least. I can't give you, obviously, specific details, but we clearly have information that indicates that a sophisticated criminal organization, as part of their strategy, is not only to maximize their profits through illegal activity, but in doing that, in maximizing their profits, where they can attempt to try and corrupt and to try to destabilize (the) situation, that's where they flourish."

Asked what he meant about the threat to Parliament, the commissioner responded:
"The question of corruption. Corruption is always a potential problem around the world, corruption in a lot of places, unfortunately, exists. So the potential to corrupt by these criminal organizations is there. We have to be vigilant against that."

In further explaining his remarks, Commissioner Zaccardelli noted two prison guards have been targeted and killed in recent years in Quebec.

"That is something that's a new phenomenon for us," he said. "You have criminal organizations that clearly are targeting some people, the court systems and so on; we have situations where Crowns (prosecuting lawyers) are being threatened by criminals and so on.

"Our fundamental institutions and the people that work in it are actually being targeted by theses sophisticated criminal organizations. That never happened before."

Asked yet again whether the RCMP has evidence of cabinet ministers or MPs being targeted by organized crime, Commissioner Zaccardelli said: "I'm saying there are criminal organizations that we are aware of that ... part of their strategy is to target and to infiltrate Canadian institutions. If they have opportunities, they will not hesitate to try and attempt that type of behaviour."

Commissioner Zaccardelli's startling comments were reminiscent of controversial statements made by former RCMP commissioner Norman Inkster in the 1980s.

Mr. Inkster told a Commons committee more than two dozen MPs were under criminal investigation. He refused to name the MPs, and only a handful were charged in subsequent years. It was later learned some of the investigations were routine inquiries following complaints.

Government and Opposition MPs said they have heard nothing about criminal attempts to infiltrate Parliament or corrupt MPs.

"I certainly don't have any information that would suggest that sort of thing," said Mississauga West Liberal Steve Mahoney.

Mr. Mahoney said Commissioner Zaccardelli may have been warning about the kind of corruption that takes place in some countries but added: "If he's inferring something about Canada's Parliament, dealing directly with MPs, I would think he would have an obligation to report that to the Speaker.

"If he's got anything on anybody, he should come clean, it's pretty clear."

Winnipeg NDP MP Pat Martin also expressed surprise. "There's never been even a hint of that kind of thing taking place, not so much as a whisper," said Mr. Martin. "I think it's kind of irresponsible to make a statement like that and get the Canadian public looking under its bed."