Former CSIS man Morden to look into RCMP top cop affair

Reid Morden, former director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and deputy minister of foreign affairs, has been appointed to oversee a "workplace assessment" of the RCMP after internal conflicts among the agency's top brass became public this week.

In a statement, Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said Friday that Morden brings "decades of experience and demonstrated capacity to manage conflict within complex environments."

"This government will continue its work to reform and strengthen our national police force, and remains committed to ensuring the RCMP becomes a stronger, more accountable organization," Toews said.

Several senior Mounties, including deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners, reportedly filed complaints recently with the highest levels of government about the leadership style of Commissioner William Elliott — the first civilian to lead the force.

Ron Lewis, a retired RCMP staff sergeant, said Friday he was a little surprised the government chose Morden to look into the agency's management troubles. He said he thought the government would choose someone a little more removed from the "centre of power."

The national security and intelligence community is a "small community," he said.

Morden, who is retired from the public service, runs a firm providing public policy advice to both the public and private sectors. He has previously served as president and CEO of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., and was an adviser to Justice Dennis O'Connor during the Maher Arar inquiry. He is also a member of the Order of Canada.

Liberal Senator Colin Kenny said Friday he thinks there's "no chance" Elliott and senior leaders will be able to resolve their differences and that the government is wasting its time with the review.

The prime minister should have either removed Elliott or the complaining officers or both, he said.

"It's something you can clean up in 48 hours and move on," he said. "The idea of reconciliation is for the birds."

But Wesley Wark, a national security expert at the University of Toronto, said the RCMP's management rift is a "huge bleeding wound" and requires an outsider to come in and hear both sides.

Wark said Morden was a good choice to take on that role, calling him "independent" and "tough minded."

"Morden's been out of government long enough that he is unlikely to have troubling personal ties to key individuals," he said.

Lewis, who has spoken to some of the complainants, has said that their major concerns are that Elliott does not treat senior officers with respect or compassion and that he has been slow to bring about reforms within the agency.

One key reform that they have been hoping for is the creation of a civilian board that would oversee the RCMP's management operations, Lewis said.

CBC News reported this week that senior officers have accused Elliott of being verbally abusive, close-minded and arrogant. One complaint described Elliott going into a rage and throwing papers at another officer, CBC said.

It is uncertain how long it will take for Morden to complete his assessment.

But Toews has said he expects the review to occur "expeditiously and without further rancour."

Elliott has turned down repeated interview requests.

But in a memo sent to the entire force this week, Elliott and other senior managers said they looked forward to the assessment and planned to co-operate "fully and with candour."