Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner William Elliott waits to testify before the Commons public safety and national security committee on Parliament Hill in Ottawa February 6, 2008.CHRIS WATTIE
Facing a mutiny in the ranks and questions about political influence, Canada's first civilian RCMP commissioner fired back at critics Friday, saying he had no plans to step down and criticizing media and politicians for "made-up" allegations.
Commissioner William Elliott acknowledged it's "fairly self-evident" that senior Mounties are trying to have him replaced, but pledged to stay in the job until a report looking into the problem is completed.
He also said the recent reassignment of a top Mountie, Chief Superintendent Marty Cheliak, who oversaw the controversial and politically charged long-gun registry, was a simple staffing move. He dismissed questions about political influence as "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," a cross Mr. Elliott said, surrounded by reporters in Edmonton after releasing a report on organized crime. "I don't know if I can say it any stronger. There's no truth to this. It's just made up ... just idle speculation by certain politicians and certain members of the media."
Mr. Elliott repeated the RCMP's assertion that Supt. Cheliak was reassigned for French training. Critics questioned the explanation, as Supt. Cheliak was set to speak about the long-gun registry at a police conference in Edmonton on Monday.
"Marty has been moved as part of a normal staffing action by the RCMP. He was in the job on an acting basis. There is absolutely, positively nothing to the suggestion that there was any political role or interference with respect to this. He is on leave. He is going to French-language training - a requirement of the job," Mr. Elliott said.
He said he has no plans to step down, despite reports that surfaced last month that senior officers have asked Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government to remove its hand-picked commissioner. Mounties are frustrated by what is characterized as Mr. Elliott's dictatorial and confrontational management style.
The federal government has appointed Reid Morden, former head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, to look into the complaints. Mr. Elliott said he is waiting for that report to be released, and said he may change his mind about his job status after it is.
"I have no plans to step down. Why? Because it's an important job to do and I'm committed to continue to do it," Mr. Elliott said. "We'll see what happens after the report. My decisions and others decisions will be better informed. Who knows? I may change my view after the report.
"I am honoured to be commissioner of the RCMP, and I am committed to doing my very best in that capacity for as long as I have that job."
The controversy for Mr. Elliott began on July 26, when reports first surfaced about divisions in the senior RCMP ranks. It was revealed that Mike McDonell, who commands the RCMP in Ontario, sent a letter to the federal government criticizing Mr. Elliott. A former senior deputy commissioner said he was "not surprised that people felt compelled to step forward."
That controversy fuelled speculation about Supt. Cheliak's reassignment this week, just before his speech at the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police about the long-gun registry, which the Conservatives oppose.
Mr. Elliott acknowledged there are problems within the force, which he is attempting to restructure.
"We got issues. We got issues as all of the members of the senior executive committed in writing to all of the thirty-some thousand employees of the RCMP. We're committed to addressing those issues. So, we're doing that," Mr. Elliott said.