JEFF SALLOT
Ottawa — Globe and Mail Update Published on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005 5:08PM EST Last updated on Wednesday, Apr. 08, 2009 5:09AM EDT
The RCMP says it is conducting a criminal investigation into a possible leak of information from the Finance Department about income trusts.
RCMP Commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli says in a letter to NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis that the force has reviewed her complaint about a possible security breach or illegal transfer of information about the pending changes to government tax policy towards income trusts.
"Based on the information obtained during the review, the RCMP will be commencing a criminal investigation," the Commissioner said in a Dec. 23 letter to the NDP MP, which she released to reporters Wednesday afternoon.
NDP and Conservative MPs had called for an investigation of a possible leak of sensitive financial information based on what they said was unusual trading activity in income trusts just prior to the tax changes announced by the Finance Department Nov. 23.
But Finance Minister Ralph Goodale denied the need for any investigation, saying he was certain there was no leak of information from his office.
News of the criminal investigation comes in the middle of a federal election campaign in which opposition parties have tried to depict the Liberal government as corrupt and scandal-plagued.
Criminal investigations do not always lead to charges.
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