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RCMP conducting 'character' checks on staff as former top intelligence
official's trial approaches | CBC News Loaded
Politics
RCMP CONDUCTING 'CHARACTER' CHECKS ON STAFF AS FORMER TOP INTELLIGENCE
OFFICIAL'S TRIAL APPROACHES
It took the arrest of one of its top intelligence officials to make it happen,
but the RCMP says it's now keeping better tabs on the "character" of the people
it employs.
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FORCE HIRED CONSULTANT TO INVESTIGATE THE CULTURE WITHIN ITS INTELLIGENCE
CO-ORDINATION UNIT
Catharine Tunney · CBC News · Posted: Aug 25, 2021 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated:
August 25
Cameron Ortis leaves the courthouse in Ottawa after being granted bail on
Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019. Ortis is a former senior RCMP employee accused of
divulging secret information. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
239
comments
It took the arrest of one of its top intelligence officials to make it happen,
but the RCMP says it's now keeping better tabs on the "character" of the people
it employs.
Cameron Ortis, who led the force's National Intelligence Co-ordination Centre
(NICC), was arrested in September 2019 in Ottawa. He was accused of revealing
secrets to an unnamed recipient and of planning to give additional classified
information to an unspecified foreign entity or terrorist group.
He is charged with multiple Security of Information Act violations, breach of
trust and a computer-related offence.
As Global News first reported, he also faced internal accusations of "strange
and controlling behaviour" that employees say the force ignored.
* THE FIFTH ESTATE
RCMP suspected person leaking secrets had high-level computer access, Ortis
investigation search warrants show
* Suspected RCMP secrecy breach fallout upgraded to 'severe,' according to
documents
The force has since confirmed it brought in Alphonse MacNeil,
a retired RCMP assistant commissioner turned consultant, to review the culture
within the intelligence co-ordination unit. Ortis was appointed director general
of the NICC in April 2016.
MacNeil's report pointed to a failure in leadership and a workplace culture that
left employees feeling "broken," according to a redacted copy of the report
recently released through an access to information request.
"The failure of leadership in this case was noted at many levels and it reveals
a need for the RCMP to consider how leaders are selected," the report says.
MacNeil — who conducted an independent review of the RCMP's handling of
the 2014 Moncton shootings, which claimed the lives of
three RCMP officers — also wrote that NICC employees felt belittled, humiliated
and demeaned in a workplace environment that violated the RCMP's core values.
RCMP SAYS IT'S LOOKING FOR 'BALANCE OF CHARACTER'
In the wake of MacNeil's report on the NICC, the RCMP said it made some changes,
including what it calls "a character leadership approach to its human resources
processes."
"These new tools allow for the assessment and ongoing development of an
individual's character, with a focus on judgment, inclusiveness and
self-awareness," said RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Caroline Duval in an emailed
response to CBC News.
"This approach ensures that employees, regardless of rank or level, have the
competencies, commitment, and balance of character to make good decisions across
a broad range of challenges and contexts."
The RCMP said it started its "character leadership approach" over the winter.
WATCH | Who is Cameron Ortis?
WHO IS CAMERON ORTIS?
9 months ago
3:01
Cameron Ortis, a senior Canadian intelligence official, has been accused of
violating the country’s secrecy laws and plotting to leak sensitive information.
Here’s how his expertise in cybersecurity and the dark web gave him access to
intelligence from Canada and its global allies. 3:01
It also pointed to the launch of its new centre for harassment resolution in
June as a sign of progress. The unit is housed within the RCMP but is meant to
be independent of the environment in which the harassment complaints originated.
"Concerted efforts are being made to create a culture focused on prevention
through a healthy and supportive workplace," said Duval.
The RCMP promised to tighten its security protocols after Ortis' arrest — and
the international headlines it generated — but has been vague on what those
changes entail.
"Some of the recommendations will take time to implement. Corrective actions
have already been undertaken in several areas that required improvements,
modifications and strengthening," said Duval.
Ortis is scheduled for an eight-week jury trial starting Sept. 6, 2022, almost
three years after his initial arrest.
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News
Report Typo or Error
RELATED STORIES
THE FIFTH ESTATE
RCMP suspected person leaking secrets had high-level computer access, Ortis
investigation search warrants show Suspected RCMP secrecy breach fallout
upgraded to 'severe,' according to documents
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