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Investigation? Did I say investigation?

A top RCMP official suggested yesterday the force might be conducting an investigation involving…

by Andrew Coyne on Friday, June 20, 2008 6:48pm - 0 Comments

A top RCMP official suggested yesterday the force might be conducting an investigation involving former Foreign Affairs minister Maxime Bernier’s ex-girlfriend, Julie Couillard.

Under questioning by New Democratic Party MP Thomas Mulcair, assistant RCMP commissioner Raf Souccar let slip that an inquiry might be under way.

Asked by Mulcair whether he took notes while discussing the Bernier/Couillard affair with colleagues, Souccar said yes, but added not all of them could be shared with the committee.

“What would be the types of things that you would not share with us and why?” Mulcair asked.

“At this point, anything specific to the investigation, I would not be willing to share with you,” Souccar replied. But he appeared to back away from his comment when he was then asked: “What investigation?”

After the hearing, Souccar refused to confirm there is an investigation, when it started or what is being investigated. “I’m not willing to confirm or deny whether or not we are conducting an investigation, have conducted or will be conducting an investigation,” he said.

Tags: Julie Couillard, Max and Julie, RCMP

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madeyoulook

I caught portions of the hearing on CPAC later that evening. It had all the trappings of a hallway in junior high school at recess:
Who do you like? I’m not telling! Is it Sandra? No. Marie? No. Helen? No. Penny? I’m not telling! Hey everybody, (taunting singing voice) Mark’s in love with Penny, Mark’s in love with Penny.
The RCMP will not compromise any investigation by publicly commenting on real or imagined investigations. Simple, straightforward, sensible. One would hope that elected MPs would have enough intellectual heft AND decency towards justice in this country (I know, I know, but a citizen can dream, can’t s/he?) to respect that, rather than embark on that shameful politically motivated gotcha-hunt. If Thomas Mulcair is a lawyer, I wonder if the Bar could investigate his shameful inquisition hoping to achieve the compromise of a potential criminal investigation.