RCMP Commissioner William Elliott on his future and other pressing issues

RCMP Commissioner William Elliott came out swinging this afternoon, saying it is "fairly self-evident" that a group of Mounties is trying to push him out his job.  When asked if he intends to resign, Elliott says he has "no cause to step down" and that he's committed to his work as Commissioner.

Elliott is in Edmonton today for meetings of the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada.  He is the organization's chairman and was present for the publication of its annual report.

After the formal news conference, Elliott spoke to reporters.  Here is the transcript:
 
Reporter:  Why has Marty Cheliak been moved to French lessons?
 
Elliott:  Marty Cheliak has been moved as part of a normal staffing action by the RCMP. He was in the job on acting basis. There is absoutely, positively nothing to the suggestion that there was any political role or intereference with respect to this. He is on leave. He's going to French language training, a requirement of the job.  We have put in an excellent officer to replace him. He will build on the work that Marty Cheliak did running the firearms program.  Marty did a great job. Pierre Perron will be as at least as good, I am very confident.  Nothing has changed except a regular change in personnel.
 
Reporter:  There are allegations that you are trying to appease the Conservative government.
 
Elliott:  They are absolute and positive fiction. There is not one iota of truth in that. The media and others just made this up. It's not true, it's not true, it's not true (repeats this answer in French).  Mr. Cheliak has not been in this job for more than six weeks. As I've said I don't know that I can say it any stronger.  There is no truth to this so it's just made up and it'd be really good if you guys could report the truth and not just idle speculation by certain politicians and certain members of the media.
 
Reporter:  Did you influence (Reid Morden's) report?
 
Elliott:  I have not seen Mr. Morden's report. And I had nothing to do with any decisions with respect to who would conduct the examination of our workplace and the report, as I understand it, is still in production. We'll see what Mr. Morden reports and decisions will be taken on the way forward following receipt of that report.
 
Reporter:  Do you feel there is a movement within the RCMP to try to have you removed from your position?
 
Elliott:  I think that's fairly self-evident.
 
Reporter:  Are these people going to be removed (unintelligible)
 
Elliott:  We're waiting for a report to be produced and decisions will be made following receipt of that report. There will probably be recommendations. Une étape à la fois. We'll see what happens.
 
Reporter:  Sir you're not planning to step down at all?
 
Elliott:  I have no cause to step down, no.
 
Reporter:  Why?
 
Elliott:  Because there's an important job to do and I am committed to continue to do it and we'll see what happens after the report.  My decisions and others decisions will be better informed. And I, who knows, I may change my view after I see the report.  But I will tell you...
 
Reporter:  You seem pretty frustrated.
 
Elliott:  Well I am frustrated by a number of things including you know the reporting of pure fiction on another subject. You know we got issues as all of the members of the senior executives committed to in writing to all of the 30 some thousand employees of the RCMP.  We're committed to addressing those issues.