In late 2007, the "RCMP Five," a group of RCMP officers and a civilian employee, were commended by Parliament for their courage in insisting that the force's brass investigate the mismanagement of the Mounties' pension fund.

In spite of this august praise, the RCMP decided in its typical manner that it was not the time for the RCMP to publicly commend whistleblowers who risked their careers to do the right thing. Their award for outstanding service was presented during a private dinner, with minimal publicity, in an Ottawa restaurant.

Contrast that with the case of the "RCMP Three" that has just surfaced. These senior executives are being sent for "personal transformation" and "accountability" training at the outrageous cost of $220,000.

It is disturbing to think that these executives rose to their positions without these requisite skills and abilities. It begs the question: what are they like right now? This is not a frivolous question. Accountability can be measured. In making the judgment that these executives need such training, there should have been an assessment.

To ensure that there is accountability, our group will be sending an Access to Information Act request to the RCMP. We will not be asking for personal information or to have these individual executives identified. Our request will be for the performance and change measurements that have been used and will be used to measure their permanent change. In other words, the types of measurements already taken to know what needs to be changed and the means by which the desired or necessary change will be measured on an ongoing basis to ensure that it is permanent.

The process used to award the contract -- an advance contract award notice -- is not intended to be used as screening tool. That it appears to have been used is ironic (as it circumvents accountability controls), inappropriate and a clear indication of the RCMP culture. We will also request how the RCMP determined that this company was the only one capable of effecting permanent change.

It appears that the RCMP has learned nothing since 2007. They are not ensuring those who already do good work and who want to speak out have the opportunity to do so without reprisals.

Instead, they appear to be sending three of the executives who have behaviour problems for corrective measures. If they have already identified three executives with a problem, one wonders how many others are there.

Allan Cutler,

Ottawa

President, Canadians for Accountability