Giuliano Zaccardelli

The Perfect Trap

Topics: 
RCMP, Sidewinder report, China, Paul Palango, Giuliano Zaccardelli, Jean Chretien
Rating: 
2

Less than a week into his new job, Giuliano Zaccardelli lured Jean Chretien into a confrontation. Then he presented the PM with an offer he could not refuse

Paul Palango
Paul Palango

Paul Palango,  National Post 
Published: Friday, November 14, 2008

Newly appointed RCMP commissioner Giuliano Zaccardelli refused to elaborate on the "sophisticated criminal organizations" he referred to in his inaugural Sept. 7, 2000 press conference. But many reporters knew what he was referring to: Project Sidewinder, the joint RCMP- CSIS investigation that had begun eight years earlier following discoveries of irregularities at the Canadian consulate in Hong Kong.

As investigators followed the trail, they became concerned about the apparent links between the Chinese government, Chinese criminal triads, and leading Canadian business leaders and politicians. There were leads that investigators were eager to pursue back to Canada, but the controversial on-and-off investigation had been wound up without charges years earlier in puzzling circumstances. Yet it would not die.

New Man On Top

Topics: 
RCMP, Sidewinder report, Paul Palango, Giuliano Zaccardelli, Jean Chretien
Rating: 
0

When he took over the RCMP, Giuliano Zaccardelli acquired more power than just about anyone else in Canada

Paul Palango
Paul Palango

Paul Palango,  National Post 
Published: Thursday, November 13, 2008

During the summer of 2000, prime minister Chretien was looking for a new commissioner of the RCMP to replace Philip Murray, who was retiring after five years on the job. Chretien had not been a fan of Murray or the RCMP. There had been plenty of bad blood. The RCMP had been poking around in some areas the prime minister considered touchy, and Chretien had returned the favour by starving the force of money.

The various candidates for the commissioner job were invited to Chretien's cottage in Quebec to meet the boss. There would be no confirmation hearings or public examination of the candidates. Neither Parliament, the RCMP nor the public would have input in the matter. Since 1984, after the last reform of the RCMP, the commissioner had been made a deputy solicitor-general, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the prime minister.

Subscribe to Giuliano Zaccardelli