Pubdate: Fri, 08 Sep 2000
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2000 Southam Inc.
Page: A2
Contact:  300 - 1450 Don Mills Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3R5
Fax: (416) 442-2209
Feedback: http://www.nationalpost.com/commentary.asp?s2letters
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Forum: http://forums.canada.com/~nationalpost
Author: Andrew McIntosh

ORGANIZED CRIME PLANS TO CORRUPT PARLIAMENT: RCMP COMMISSIONER

OTTAWA - Giuliano Zaccardelli, the new Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, yesterday warned that powerful criminal organizations have drafted plans to use bribes to destabilize the country's parliamentary system.

In his first meeting with reporters since he was sworn in last week as the 20th Commissioner of the RCMP, Mr. Zaccardelli said organized crime groups in Canada have now amassed so much money and power that they threaten our democratic institutions.

"For the first time in this country, we are seeing signs of criminal organizations that are so sophisticated that they are focusing on destabilizing certain aspects of our society," he told reporters.

"There are criminal organizations that target the destabilization of our parliamentary system."

Commissioner Zaccardelli, a 30-year RCMP veteran, refused to elaborate when reporters pressed him for details of how organized crime had planned to destabilize Parliament, but he defended the remarks and denied he was being an alarmist.

"It is not fear-mongering in the least. I can't give you, obviously, specific details, but we clearly have information that indicates that criminal organizations, sophisticated criminal organizations, as part of their strategy is not only to maximize their profits through illegal activities, but it is also, in doing that, in maximizing their profits, where they can attempt to try and corrupt and try to destabilize situations," Mr. Zaccardelli said.

He said he could not provide any specific evidence to show that organized crime had attempted to corrupt a specific MP or Senator, but he insisted "corruption is always a potential problem.

"We have to be vigilant. We don't want to wait until we become, unfortunately, like some countries around the world, where criminal organizations actually run part of the country," Mr. Zaccardelli said.

The Commons Justice Committee this fall begins special in-camera hearings on the growth of organized crime in Canada, the first such in-depth examination of the problem since the 1970s.

Mr. Zaccardelli, who until recently was the deputy commissioner in charge of the RCMP's anti-organized crime efforts, said Canadians have been fortunate their authorities have kept organized crime in check.

But he said that, in addition to his "information" about strategies to subvert Parliament, organized crime has already tried to destabilize the criminal justice system. Two prison guards were shot in Quebec and criminal organizations have threatened Crown prosecutors.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager