The World Today Editorial

On Friday I asked where the leaders are on the issue of Don Ray, the RCMP Sergeant who has admitted to 7 instances of disgraceful conduct, including drinking on the job, having sex on the job, demanding sex from female subordinates, and exposing himself to a female subordinate and the fact he’s been or is being transferred from Edmonton to Metro Vancouver.   Alberta ships its problem child to BC.  We now have the answer and our leaders are lacking, seriously lacking, when it comes to the issue of Don Ray.  I think they are idiots.

Premier Christy Clark says she thinks the Mounties made a mistake by not firing Ray and by transferring him to B-C.  But she says there is nothing she can do.   She is in the process of finalizing a new 20-year contract with the RCMP that is supposed to increase accountability.  Rather than put an instant stop the deal, tell Ottawa to fix this immediately or go to hell, Clark says there’s nothing she can do.   Justice Minister Shirley Bond calls RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson telling him to rescind the transfer to B-C, but he won’t and later that day we find out from his Deputy running British Columbia that Craig Callens actually volunteered to take Don Ray.   NDP leader Adrian Dix has not said a word on this – heck, he’s too busy trying to save 12 union jobs at the Kitsilano Coast Guard station to comment on anything as unimportant as Don Ray.   
Surrey is home to the largest RCMP detachment in the country.   Surrey’s Mayor is a big supporter of the RCMP.  But Surrey’s Mayor is also a woman – you’d think Dianne Watts would be screaming about what Don Ray did and his transfer here.  On Saturday Watts said she needs more information – she doesn’t have enough facts.    Wow, the story has been raging for days, the Ottawa Citizen published all of the details of the Don Ray case last Tuesday, but 5 days later she needs more information.  Funny, today she calls the CKNW newsroom to clarify her weekend comments – she is outraged that Don Ray has not been fired, the RCMP Act needs to be changed and matters governing discipline should be fixed immediately.    But, it’s up to the Feds to do that.   As home to the largest detachment in the country, she couldn’t exert pressure?  She and her council couldn’t rescind their acceptance of the new 20-year contract until that new disciplinary stuff is in place?   Stand up with women in the Surrey RCMP detachment and say no more – we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore, in any workplace in her city?

James Moore is the senior Conservative Cabinet Minister in British Columbia.   RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson said last week he’d fire Don Ray if he could but he can’t because of the RCMP Act…..a piece of legislation everyone’s been saying for years needs to be updated if the RCMP is ever to regain the trust of the public, especially here in BC.   Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, the guy running the RCMP in BC, also said last week the RCMP Act needs to be changed.  That was also his explanation as to why he couldn’t fire Monty Robinson after Robinson was convicted of obstruction of justice.  So what does James Moore say on the Don Ray case – it’s up to the RCMP to justify its decision on Ray to the public, it’s up to the RCMP to fix its image and trust problems, and the Harper Government doesn’t micromanage personnel decisions of the RCMP.   Not that he agrees the RCMP Act needs to change, not that his government is moving quickly to change the RCMP Act so guys like Paulson and Callens can fire guys like Don Ray instantly – no, our senior Cabinet Minister doesn’t say that – he blames the Mounties.  And what do we hear from Vic Toews, the federal Public Safety Minister, the get-tough-on-crime guy, the man who said in the House of Commons to the Opposition on the issue of his crime legislation that either you’re with us or you’re with the child pornographers and perverts – what does he say about the Don Ray case, the RCMP Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner who blame an outdated piece of legislation that desperately needs changing?  Nothing, Vic Toews says nothing.

So, Premier Christy Clark and Justice Minister Shirley Bond say they are outraged but won’t do anything.  NDP leader Adrian Dix says nothing.   Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts isn’t outraged initially, rather she wants more information.  Then she is outraged but says there isn’t anything she can do, it’s up to the Federal Government.  B-C Cabinet Minister James Moore blames the Mounties.    And Public Safety Minister Vic Toews is silent.

Leadership means making decisions.  Making a decision means actually doing something.   Not one of them is doing a damn thing.  Meanwhile, Don Ray comes to work here.

Christy Clark, Shirley Bond, Adrian Dix, Dianne Watts, James Moore – you should be ashamed.  Every woman wearing an RCMP uniform, every civilian woman working for the RCMP needs you to stand up, and do the right thing.   Do, not talk, but do.  And not one of you will, even though you have the power to if you want.  You are gutless.  Absolutely, unequivocally, completely and utterly gutless.

In our system of government, the RCMP ultimately is responsible to the people we elect.  The RCMP says the legislation governing it desperately needs to be changed.  And not one of our politicians is willing to make that happen.

Is that okay with you?  It's not with me.