PACP Committee News Release
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Standing Committee on Public Accounts |
HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES OTTAWA, CANADA K1A 0A6 |
Comité permanent des comptes publics |
For immediate release
NEWS RELEASE
HOUSE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS SENIOR RCMP OFFICER BE FOUND CONTEMPT
Ottawa, February 12, 2008 -
Barbara George, a Deputy Commissioner with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, should be found in contempt for making false and misleading statements to the Public Accounts Committee, according to a report tabled in the House of Commons today by Chair Shawn Murphy, MP.
On February 21, 2007, at the beginning of the Public Accounts Committee’s study into problems in the administration of the RCMP’s pension and insurance plans, D/Commr George was asked about a removal order against Staff Sergeant Mike Frizzell of the RCMP, who was then part of the criminal investigation led by the Ottawa Police Service. D/Commr George responded by saying “with absolute finality” that she had “nothing whatsoever” to do with the removal and did not know who issued the order.
After receiving documentary evidence and hearing witness testimony that contradicted D/Commr George’s assertions, the Committee concluded that D/Commr George’s testimony on February 21, 2007 was false and misleading.
Witnesses before parliamentary committees are expected to provide truthful, accurate, and complete answers to questions posed to them during committee hearings. Failure to do so undermines the ability of committee to be effective, and committees must protect themselves against such contempts.
As D/Commr George made false and misleading statements, the Public Accounts Committee recommends to the House of Commons that D/Commr George be found in contempt by the House. The Committee does not recommend that the House take further action because a finding of contempt is, in itself, a serious sanction.
The most recent example of a non-parliamentarian to be found in contempt is George Radwanski, the former Privacy Commissioner. He was found in contempt of the House in November 2003 for providing misleading testimony to the Government Operations and Estimates Committee.
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