Bits and Pieces

I find this sad Stephen Owen was a good MP and cabinet minister. It seems to be a step down to me.

My son has is on his second of these, it is high time that Microsoft did something about this issue.

This story says everything about the CPC's and its leaders ethics and vindictiveness.

I'm going to wait and see how this works out before I make a decision. I like that they chose someone from outside the RCMP but I am concerned about political interference.

I love potato chips but they don't love me, reading this story made me very hungry.

Where have you gone Dudley Doright?

I have blogged about the RCMP before and this just confirms my suspicions. I am a little bit concerned that the OPP has been suggested as the appropriate investigative body, I am not a big fan of Julian Fantino. If Fantino keeps away from any investigation it may be okay. I would suggest that Ontario's current Ombudsman may be the best person to handle the job.

I have been impressed with him since he first came on the scene as the first director of the SIU. He isn't afraid to look into difficult situations and if he encounters official wrongdoing he doesn't sweep it under the rug.

UPDATE

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070618.wdayrcmp0618/BNStory/National/home

Can Disney save the Mounties?

For much of Canada's history the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has been a symbol of Canada. Some of the image was the creation of Hollywood, but much of its image was a result of the good and honest work that the force did in the Canadian West. Now we are faced with scandal after scandal.
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/218715

As a lawyer, I have come to understand that you cannot always trust that the Police are doing the right thing. The RCMP and other police services are made up of human beings just like you and I. They make mistakes, they can become drunk on the power that they wield and a very small minority of police officers are dishonest. Society as a whole tends to believe that the police do no wrong and it is only when they have their own encounter with the police do they see that the police sometimes do make mistakes and sometimes do abuse their power. That is why all police services need civilian oversight and critical review of their operations.

The RCMP appears to have lacked this kind of oversight and critical review. The Mounties appear to have strayed from the straight and narrow. Who knows maybe the RCMP has been like this for a long time and its rotten internal culture is just now being exposed.

I wonder how Disney will market the Mounties now?