Mounties want to testify about alleged N.B. coverups: report
Last Updated: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 | 1:31 PM AT
CBC News
Some RCMP officers appear eager to talk about alleged coverups regarding financial improprieties and the Kingsclear abuse scandal in New Brunswick, says a newspaper report.
The Toronto Star reported Tuesday that several Mounties want to testify before a House of Commons committee about potential scandals in the force. The report said these include two coverups in New Brunswick.
The story said the Mounties want to testify about forged signatures used to make payments by the New Brunswick government.
According to the Star, the officers want to testify publicly about an alleged coverup of a former colleague's involvement in the Kingsclear sex abuse scandal.
The same allegation is now being looked at by the commission for public complaints against the RCMP.
Public Safety Minister John Foran is responsible for RCMP policing in the province.
"They're only allegations, and that's all they are at this time. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it plays out, whether it becomes an inquiry, a matter for criminal investigation, the courts, we'll have to wait and see."
Opposition MLA Wayne Steeves, a former public safety minister, said the new allegations haven't convinced him there needs to be another inquiry into the Kingsclear abuse case.
"I don't really know. They're supposed to have done a real investigation on it, and 'when's enough?' is the whole thing," Steeves said.
The newspaper story said the Mounties want to be subpoenaed before a parliamentary committee because that would provide legal protection and retribution from their superiors.
