Giuliano Zaccardelli
Encyclopedia
Giuliano Zaccardelli, COM
is a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP) officer who was the Commissioner of the RCMP from 2 September 2000 to 15 December 2006. Zaccardelli's departure from the RCMP was linked to the force's involvement in the Maher Arar Affair
. He was subsequently impugned during inquiries into irregularities in the management of the RCMP's pension and insurance fund.
He is now a senior official with Interpol
in Lyon
, France, http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/489479 heading its “OASIS Africa” program http://blog.macleans.ca/2008/05/22/good-luck-africa-youll-need-it/#more-1187
which aims to help African police forces more effectively combat international crime. http://www.interpol.int/Public/Region/Africa/Oasis/Default.asp
area, mainly in Saint Leonard.
Zaccardelli joined the RCMP in 1970 and was posted to St. Paul, Alberta following recruit training. He was transferred to Toronto in 1974, and then in 1981 to Calgary. He became an officer in 1986 and served in Ottawa and New Brunswick. In 1993, he became Chief Superintendent
in charge of Criminal Operations in Quebec. In 1995, he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner and he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in 1998, responsible for National Headquarters. In 1999, he became the Deputy Commissioner, Organized Crime and Operational Policy. From 2 September 2000 to 15 December 2006 he served as the 20th Commissioner of the RCMP. He presided over the RCMP during changes made to Canada's policing, security and military apparatus after 11 September 2001. Prior to his departure he collected numerous Canadian honours
and two foreign honours. However, he became the first commissioner in the history of the RCMP to be forced out because of controversy.
made a surprise announcement that the government would not tax the trusts, and would instead cut dividend taxes. This made trusts and dividend paying stocks even from a taxation perspective. The markets rallied in the hours leading up to the announcement by the government allegedly due to leaks. During the following days, the S&P/TSX Composite Index reached a new five-year high. The day's biggest gainers were income trusts, income-trust candidates, high dividend-paying companies, and the TSX Group
itself. The minority Liberal government of Paul Martin
fell to a motion of no confidence
on 28 November 2005. An election campaign for a 23 January 2006 election began the next day. Near the end of December, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
announced a criminal investigation into the leaking of news of a federal tax change for income trust
s. The announcement came in the form of a letter from Zaccardelli to New Democratic Party
Member of Parliament Judy Wasylycia-Leis
. The RCMP came under criticism for announcing the probe during the campaign. The matter was investigated by the CPC
the external review body of RCMP members' conduct. The report of the commissioner concluded that there was no evidence to suggest Zaccardelli deliberately meddled with the electoral process. The chair of the CPC judged Zaccardelli and other RCMP members having acted in an inappropriate manner by not cooperating with the external investigation.
has been the subject of intense speculation and controversy. Members of the House of Commons Committee on Public Safety and National Security have called his testimony in this matter "contradictory", with Liberal MP Mark Holland
saying "We've now got Mr. Zaccardelli in my opinion perjuring himself before a parliamentary committee." The contradictions were with respect to what he knew at the time and what he told government ministers. Zaccardelli resigned from his post as Commissioner on 6 December, effective 15 December 2006. Prime Minister Stephen Harper
announced in the House of Commons that Zaccardelli had resigned. "Today, Commissioner Zaccardelli submitted his resignation to me and I have accepted it," Harper said. "The commissioner has indicated to me that it would be in the best interests of the RCMP to have new leadership as this great organization faces challenges in the future."
Order of Merit of the Police Forces
The Order of Merit of the Police Forces is an honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the only such fellowship reserved only for members of Canada's various police forces...
is a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
(RCMP) officer who was the Commissioner of the RCMP from 2 September 2000 to 15 December 2006. Zaccardelli's departure from the RCMP was linked to the force's involvement in the Maher Arar Affair
Maher Arar
Maher Arar is a telecommunications engineer with dual Syrian and Canadian citizenship who resides in Canada. Arar's story is frequently referred to as "extraordinary rendition" but the U.S. government insisted it was a case of deportation.Arar was detained during a layover at John F...
. He was subsequently impugned during inquiries into irregularities in the management of the RCMP's pension and insurance fund.
He is now a senior official with Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, France, http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/489479 heading its “OASIS Africa” program http://blog.macleans.ca/2008/05/22/good-luck-africa-youll-need-it/#more-1187
which aims to help African police forces more effectively combat international crime. http://www.interpol.int/Public/Region/Africa/Oasis/Default.asp
Early life and career
Zaccardelli was born in Prezza, Italy and immigrated to Canada at age 7. He grew up in the MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
area, mainly in Saint Leonard.
Zaccardelli joined the RCMP in 1970 and was posted to St. Paul, Alberta following recruit training. He was transferred to Toronto in 1974, and then in 1981 to Calgary. He became an officer in 1986 and served in Ottawa and New Brunswick. In 1993, he became Chief Superintendent
Chief Superintendent
Chief superintendent is a senior rank in police forces organised on the British model.- United Kingdom :In the British police, a chief superintendent is senior to a superintendent and junior to an assistant chief constable .The highest rank below Chief Officer level, chief...
in charge of Criminal Operations in Quebec. In 1995, he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner and he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in 1998, responsible for National Headquarters. In 1999, he became the Deputy Commissioner, Organized Crime and Operational Policy. From 2 September 2000 to 15 December 2006 he served as the 20th Commissioner of the RCMP. He presided over the RCMP during changes made to Canada's policing, security and military apparatus after 11 September 2001. Prior to his departure he collected numerous Canadian honours
Canadian honours system
The orders, decorations, and medals of Canada comprise a complex system by which Canadians are honoured by the country's sovereign for actions or deeds that benefit their community or the country at large...
and two foreign honours. However, he became the first commissioner in the history of the RCMP to be forced out because of controversy.
Controversy over income trust file
In the fall of 2005 the status of income trusts was uncertain. After the close of the markets on 23 November 2005, Finance Minister Ralph GoodaleRalph Goodale
Ralph Edward Goodale, PC, MP was Canada's Minister of Finance from 2003 to 2006 and continues to be a Liberal Member of Parliament...
made a surprise announcement that the government would not tax the trusts, and would instead cut dividend taxes. This made trusts and dividend paying stocks even from a taxation perspective. The markets rallied in the hours leading up to the announcement by the government allegedly due to leaks. During the following days, the S&P/TSX Composite Index reached a new five-year high. The day's biggest gainers were income trusts, income-trust candidates, high dividend-paying companies, and the TSX Group
TSX Group
The TMX Group Inc. owns and operates stock exchanges, the Toronto Stock Exchange , and the TSX Venture Exchange , formerly known as the Canadian Venture Exchange , the Montreal Exchange, the Natural Gas Exchange and the Boston Options Exchange...
itself. The minority Liberal government of Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
fell to a motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
on 28 November 2005. An election campaign for a 23 January 2006 election began the next day. Near the end of December, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
announced a criminal investigation into the leaking of news of a federal tax change for income trust
Income trust
An income trust is an investment that may hold equities, debt instruments, royalty interests or real properties. The trust can receive interest, royalty or lease payments from an operating entity carrying on a business, as well as dividends and a return of capital.The main attraction of income...
s. The announcement came in the form of a letter from Zaccardelli to New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
Member of Parliament Judy Wasylycia-Leis
Judy Wasylycia-Leis
Klazina Judith "Judy" Wasylycia-Leis is a Canadian politician. She was a Manitoba cabinet minister in the government of Howard Pawley from 1986 to 1988, and was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from September 22, 1997 to April 30, 2010...
. The RCMP came under criticism for announcing the probe during the campaign. The matter was investigated by the CPC
Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP
The Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP is an independent Canadian government agency responsible for complaints, as well as complaints from members of the RCMP, of improper conduct of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police....
the external review body of RCMP members' conduct. The report of the commissioner concluded that there was no evidence to suggest Zaccardelli deliberately meddled with the electoral process. The chair of the CPC judged Zaccardelli and other RCMP members having acted in an inappropriate manner by not cooperating with the external investigation.
Controversy over Maher Arar file
Zaccardelli's role in the affair of Maher ArarMaher Arar
Maher Arar is a telecommunications engineer with dual Syrian and Canadian citizenship who resides in Canada. Arar's story is frequently referred to as "extraordinary rendition" but the U.S. government insisted it was a case of deportation.Arar was detained during a layover at John F...
has been the subject of intense speculation and controversy. Members of the House of Commons Committee on Public Safety and National Security have called his testimony in this matter "contradictory", with Liberal MP Mark Holland
Mark Holland
Mark Holland is a Canadian politician. In the 2004 federal election he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a candidate of the Liberal Party in the Ontario riding of Ajax-Pickering. Holland was subsequently re-elected in the 2006 and 2008 federal elections...
saying "We've now got Mr. Zaccardelli in my opinion perjuring himself before a parliamentary committee." The contradictions were with respect to what he knew at the time and what he told government ministers. Zaccardelli resigned from his post as Commissioner on 6 December, effective 15 December 2006. Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
announced in the House of Commons that Zaccardelli had resigned. "Today, Commissioner Zaccardelli submitted his resignation to me and I have accepted it," Harper said. "The commissioner has indicated to me that it would be in the best interests of the RCMP to have new leadership as this great organization faces challenges in the future."
Controversy over RCMP's pension and insurance plans
In March 2007, RCMP officers testified before the Public Accounts Committee that they had grave questions about the handling of the funds and that they believed senior officers were to blame. They alleged fund misappropriation and nepotism and that senior RCMP management covered up the problems. In testimony before the Committee Zaccardelli rejected accusations that he was involved in a cover up of alleged irregularities, fraud and abuse involving the RCMP's pension and insurance plans.Honours
- Principal Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police ForcesOrder of Merit of the Police ForcesThe Order of Merit of the Police Forces is an honour for merit that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the only such fellowship reserved only for members of Canada's various police forces...
, 2002 - Commander of the Order of St. John of JerusalemVenerable Order of Saint JohnThe Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
- 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada MedalThe 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada...
- Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee MedalQueen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee MedalThe Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II...
, 2002 - RCMP Long Service Medal
- Officer of the French Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, 2003 - Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of SaskatchewanCommemorative Medal for the Centennial of SaskatchewanThe Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan also called the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal is a commemorative medal struck to celebrate the first 100 years since Saskatchewan's entrance into Canadian Confederation....
, 2005 - Alberta Centennial MedalAlberta Centennial MedalThe Alberta Centennial Medal is a commemorative medal celebrating Alberta’s first 100 years of confederation.-Purpose:This medal is meant to pay tribute to Albertans whose achievements have benefited their fellow citizens, their community and their province....
, 2005 - Grand Officer, Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, 2005.
- Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...