WHY A JUDICIAL INQUIRY IS NEEDED FOR HIGH RIVER: On February 12, 2015, the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP released their long-awaited report of their investigation of the RCMP's actions during and following the emergency flooding in the Town of High River, Alberta between June 20, 2013 to July 13, 2013.  The Commission's investigation examined the RCMP's forced entries of "more than 754 homes", their unwarranted search of 4,666 homes (most on at least two occasions), damage complaints filed by more than 1,900 home owners, the RCMP's seizure of more than 600 firearms and the seizure and destruction of approximately 7,500 pounds (between 400,000 and 450,000 rounds) of ammunition. 

The RCMP Complaint Commission's report starts with such lofty aims and ambitions by quoting British statesman William Pitt from his speech to the House of Commons in 1763: "The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frail, its roof may shake; the wind may blow through it; the storms may enter, the rain may enter,—but the King of England cannot enter; all his forces dare not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement."  Sadly, the report documented what we already knew: how the Queen's forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (with the help of  more than 300 Canadian Armed Forces personnel), did cross the thresholds of 4,666 High River homes, by kicking in doors, searching homes and seizing private property without warrant.  The report tries to justify the RCMP's actions in High River, overlooking the Alberta Emergency Management Act's plain requirements for the delegation of authority for unwarranted searches of buildings (which was clearly not followed), omitting or distorting important details, contradicting past public statements and documents; and, holding no one to account for systematic, organized egregious violations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Alberta Bill of Rights and offences under Criminal Code and the RCMP Act.

This is a story of police, bureaucratic and ministerial misconduct and cover-up that belongs in the third world, not in Canada. The entire story needs to be dragged out into the sunlight and those who were responsible need to be held accountable. We need an independent public inquiry if we are to have any hope of correcting this gross abuse of power. We believe a judicial inquiry will reveal the entire story as well as those responsible; in the same manner as the Braidwood Inquiry revealed the truth about the death of Robert Dziekanski and those who lied to cover it up. (Please read my letter to the Premier below)

MARCH 31, 2015 - SO MANY QUESTIONS LEFT UNANSWERED BY HIGH RIVER INVESTIGATION http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/70833

 SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 - HIGH RIVER UPDATE                     Governments still hiding many facts and overlooking 4,666 Charter Violations! http://canadafreepress.com/article/75156