The RCMP needs major changes to its governance and culture, a government-appointed investigator said Friday.

David Brown, the former head of the Ontario Securities Commission, was appointed by the government in April to investigate allegations that senior RCMP officers covered up problems in the administration of the force's pension and insurance fund.

In releasing his report on Friday, Brown strongly criticized the management style of former RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli, saying officers who brought the pension and insurance problems to his attention "faced career damage."

The lower-ranking force members who complained about problems "were treated very unfairly," he said.

Brown recommended appointing a task force of police, government officials and private-sector experts to look into the RCMP culture and governance to deal with a situation in which RCMP members were punished for challenging the prevailing management.

The RCMP needs 'fundamental cultural, structural and governance changes,' investigator David Brown recommended.
(CBC)

"We need fundamental cultural, structural and governance changes throughout the RCMP," he told reporters Friday. The RCMP structure and culture "is completely at odds with the reality of running a $3-billion enterprise."

He described the actions of RCMP management as a "fundamental breach of trust" with the force.

The proposed task force should report by Dec. 14, he said. A decision about appointing a task force is up to the government.  

"This is of the utmost urgency and importance" because lower-ranking officers and the public are losing confidence in the force, Brown said.

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said in a news release that the government will respond to Brown's report on Tuesday.

No coverup, just mismanagement

But Brown also said he found no signs of a coverup on the pension issue, just mismanagement.

Brown said he reviewed multiple previous investigations and inquiries into RCMP management, hired forensic accountants KPMG to study 400,000 documents and e-mails, and interviewed 25 witnesses, including Zaccardelli.

As expected, he rejected the idea of a public inquiry. Such an inquiry "will uncover nothing new," he asserted.

But he did recommend the Ontario Provincial Police review an Ottawa Police Service criminal investigation of the pension issues to determine if the investigation was done properly.

He did not conclude that the investigation was flawed, only that the lack of independence in the investigation may be a problem.

Brown also called for public recognition of three people who had struggled to reveal the pension issues and been treated unfairly:

• Government employee Denise Revine, who had worked in human resources for 33 years. Her position was declared surplus, and her health and reputation hurt. "Organizational changes were used to silence a person seen as a troublesome employee," Brown wrote.
• Chief Supt. Fraser Macaulay, who brought Revine's concerns to Zaccardelli's attention, and was quickly given a "punishment transfer" to the Department of National Defence.
• Staff Sgt. Mike Frizzell, who followed up on the Ottawa police investigation until he was ordered to stop, and was transferred.  

Ron Lewis, a retired RCMP staff sergeant, and Sgt. Steve Walker should also be recognized, Brown said.

Lewis, who initially spoke out against RCMP management, said he is satisfied with most of Brown's report. But he said he doesn't accept the suggestion that there was no coverup.

"Not one bit. As much as I endorse the report, I think that's the one area where he may have gone a little soft."

Brown also had harsh words for Paul Gauvin, the top official responsible for the RCMP's finances. He said he's concerned that Gauvin has refused to take responsibility for problems with the pension plan.

NDP still calling for inquiry

NDP critic David Christopherson said he still wants a public inquiry so witnesses can be called to testify under oath.

"You're going to tell me that one person, a super investigator, was able to come bouncing out of the phone booth and by themselves get to the bottom of this in a few weeks," Christopher said. "We ought to make that person king of the world if he's so smart. It's ridiculous."

Earlier this spring, RCMP officers and staff told a parliamentary committee they had unearthed abuse of the pension fund. They claimed that senior managers responded to their concerns either by punishing whistleblowers, or blocking investigations into the accounting irregularities.

Their allegations followed studies and investigations that began in 2003, responding to allegations that there was nepotism in hiring, doubtful expense account claims and improper contracts in the $12-billion RCMP pension plan and insurance fund.

Brown's report was given to Day and Vic Toews, the president of the Treasury Board.