Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the RCMP’s autonomy in a recent statement, denouncing the leadership of the national police force as “reprehensible” and alleging a cover-up on behalf of the Liberal government and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Poilievre expressed in a YouTube interview that if the RCMP had fulfilled its duties without concealing information, Trudeau would have faced criminal charges. Specifically, Poilievre pointed to Trudeau’s involvement in the 2016 Aga Khan scandal as a violation of the law.
Moreover, Poilievre suggested that Trudeau may have unlawfully engaged in the SNC-Lavalin controversy. According to him, these actions should have resulted in criminal prosecutions, but the RCMP purportedly obscured the truth. The Opposition leader criticized the RCMP’s leadership for failing to enforce laws against the Liberal government.
In response to these accusations, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme defended the integrity of his team and refuted any claims of political influence. The RCMP, under former commissioner Brenda Lucki, explored the possibility of charging Trudeau with fraud related to his 2016 vacation on the Aga Khan’s private island but ultimately chose not to pursue a criminal investigation due to legal intricacies.
The RCMP documents revealed that if the ethics commissioner had found Trudeau in breach of the Criminal Code, she would have been obligated to inform the relevant authorities. However, since this notification never occurred, it was inferred that Trudeau did not violate any laws. The RCMP emphasized that there was no interference in the SNC-Lavalin affair and cited insufficient evidence to press charges in the case.
Commissioner Duheme invited Poilievre to engage with the RCMP leadership directly to address any concerns. Poilievre’s office reiterated the importance of RCMP officers in upholding law and order, emphasizing the stance that nobody should be exempt from legal accountability. The RCMP’s operational independence is crucial in safeguarding against external political pressures.