The federal Liberals have urged Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to issue an apology for questioning the RCMP’s independence and integrity. Poilievre accused the police of covering up for the Liberal government in an interview with the YouTube channel Northern Perspective. He alleged that former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had broken the law in the Aga Khan scandal and the SNC-Lavalin affair.
During question period, Liberal House Leader Steve MacKinnon called on Poilievre to apologize from the House of Commons, emphasizing the importance of not questioning the institutions’ independence in Canada. Poilievre, however, declined to apologize, claiming the Liberals were deflecting attention from the country’s rising cost of living.
In a written statement, Poilievre expressed support for the RCMP officers while maintaining his stance that the force had shielded the Liberal government. His comments have drawn criticism, with Green Party Leader Elizabeth May expressing concerns about the language used in Canadian politics.
The Opposition leader’s office instructed Conservative MPs to highlight the importance of the RCMP and promised additional resources for the force. The Mounties clarified that there was insufficient evidence to lay charges in the SNC-Lavalin affair, despite the controversy it stirred in Parliament in 2019.
Ethics Commissioner Mike Duheme, who oversaw the RCMP’s national division, refuted Poilievre’s claims of interference and invited him to meet with the organization. The RCMP, while accountable to the government, is meant to maintain operational independence to prevent political interference, as recommended by the inquiry into the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting. The force is developing internal guidelines to safeguard decision-making from undue government influence.