I first went down this path when I learned that Kingston's Brian Abrams was an ex-RCMP officer. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, but it did give me pause, since there are so many in the Conservative government with ties to this force.There has also been a great deal of concern that Stephen Harper has been politicizing the police, and with so many investigations into his government, it does give the impression that they may be given favour.
This is sad, because the Mounties have always been a source of pride to Canadians, and the last group I would ever have believed to be partisan.
I know that it is probably only a handful of officers involved, but it could paint them all with the same brush.
One of the most blatant at the grassroots level, was the uniformed RCMP officer delivering campaign signs for Saskatchewan MP Rob Clarke; sending a very clear message to the people of this community, even if that was not the intent. This was in direct violation of their strict neutrality policy.
Voter says uniformed RCMP officer helped candidate
A La Ronge resident says he witnessed a uniformed RCMP officer delivering campaign signs for a Conservative candidate in northern Saskatchewan, a violation of the police force's strict neutrality policy.
By The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon)
October 8, 2008
A La Ronge resident says he witnessed a uniformed RCMP officer delivering campaign signs for a Conservative candidate in northern Saskatchewan, a violation of the police force's strict neutrality policy.
Bill Layman, a longtime northern resident who's in the mining exploration business, said the uniformed officer was delivering large campaign placards on Monday around noon to the downtown constituency office of Rob Clarke, the Conservative candidate in the Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River.
The officer was using a marked RCMP pickup truck. Layman was driving to an advanced polling station to vote when he saw the officer taking signs out of the truck.
"This was a big freaking sign," Layman said. "I'm not into partisan politics . . . but this guy was 100 per cent totally delivering this stuff."
Layman tried to approach the man, he said, but the officer was "incredibly dismissive."
"He was very offhandish, like it was no big deal. He gave me a kind of Valley girl stare like it was no big deal, what's your problem?"
RCMP say the officer was off-duty at the time and was on his way to nearby Southend, where he is stationed. An investigation has been launched into the complaint, RCMP Sgt. Carole Raymond said.
"Any activity that our members do that seems that we're supporting any party is not something the RCMP supports," she said. "If we start taking sides then we're going to come across as supporting certain policies."
Clarke, the Conservative incumbent, won the riding in a byelection earlier this year. He was the RCMP sergeant in charge of the Spiritwood detachment in 2006 when three constables were fired on. Two of them, constables Robin Cameron and Marc Bourdages, died. He enjoys strong support among RCMP members because of his involvement, members of his campaign team said.
Russell Ullyatt, Clarke's campaign manager, said the organization has more than 500 volunteers and doesn't "have control over what they do.
"If the story is true, it's very unfortunate," he said.
Liberal party candidate David Orchard, Clarke's main rival in the riding, said it was "totally inappropriate" for a uniformed Mountie to be involved in campaigning during a federal election.
"It's completely (unacceptable) in a democracy for the national police force to be using its vehicles, openly, on the main street of a town, to drop off signs for a candidate," Orchard said. "It's a gesture of intimidation. It's frightening and unacceptable."
Layman said several people have accused him of playing partisan politics after he alerted media and other campaigns of what he saw. But, ironically, he cast his vote for Clarke at the advanced polling station a mere 10 minutes later, he said.
"This just really bothers me," Layman said. "This is about perception. It doesn't matter that he was off-duty. It's that he was doing it."
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