The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP has issued a “scathing” report condemning the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for tactics used in Quebec City in dealing with anti-globalization demonstrators. It is apparent that the RCMP does not appreciate its legal obligations in dealing with crowds and continues to abuse citizens who take to the streets to exercise their democratic right to dissent. Many of the force’s mistakes at APEC ’97 in Vancouver were repeated in Quebec City in 2001.

The disturbing thing about this is that the RCMP is our national police force, sworn to uphold the law. Instead, it is repeatedly violating the law and trampling on the fundamental constitutional rights of Canadians. Even more distressing, if that is possible, is the Commission’s conclusion that the RCMP’s internal investigation amounted to a whitewash.

Canadians deserve better.