Announcement of the new RCMP Commissioner

Remarks by
The Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety

July 6, 2007
Ottawa, Ontario
As Delivered

Following the resignation of the former RCMP Commissioner, we announced that a search was taking place to find a new Commissioner for the RCMP. A company with expertise in that particular area set about the process. There was a public process, advertised and Gazetted appropriately. Many candidates, many extremely qualified candidates, either came forward or were asked to come forward to be interviewed. At the appropriate time, that search company then gave their recommendation to a selection committee, composed of Margaret Bloodworth, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet. Also on the search committee were two former Solicitors General, the Honourable James Kelleher and Jean-Jacques Blais. Accompanying them was Mr. Norman Inkster and the Deputy Minister of Public Safety, Suzanne Hurtubise.

The Committee brought forward a name to me for consideration by the Prime Minister. And I am proud to announce today that the Prime Minister, Mr. Stephen Harper, has announced his selection for the post of new RCMP Commissioner, and it's Mr. William Elliott.

William Elliott has incredible and extensive experience, which makes him well suited for the position he is about to take on. He has political experience in the Deputy Prime Minister's Office, right here in this building. He also served as a lawyer. He has worked in the Department of Justice, principally on issues related to northern Canada and aboriginal affairs. He has been an Assistant Deputy Minister of Transport during a time of crisis. He was there on the desk when 9/11 took place when all international flights coming into North America were ordered to be grounded.

He knows what it is to be in a situation of extreme crisis and keep a cool head, and to act in a manner that results in a very successful operation. He's also been Deputy Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard. He is well acquainted with all of the challenges related to Canada's sovereignty, related to our coastline, related to elements of national and emergency, whether it be search and rescue, dealing with criminal organizations in areas in which the coast guard would be intervening and also, of course, their work in collaboration with Department of National Defence.

He has also served the former Prime Minister, Paul Martin, and our present Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the role of National Security Advisor. I can say there are fewer people than you can count on one hand who would have more knowledge of the national security issues that face our country than Mr. Elliott.

I know that he's going to do an extremely good job in this role. This is a time, as you know, when the report from Mr. Brown recommended that there be a new governance structure at the RCMP. This is a time of transition, a time when the management skills and experience of Mr. Elliott are required.

I want to thank Commissioner Beverley Busson, first female Commissioner of the RCMP, who stepped in at a difficult time and has done a great job. I was talking with her about this particular appointment and she has given it her full support, and is looking forward to working with Mr. Elliott and others as we move to the official transition date of July 16, 2007.

I want to say to the men and women of the RCMP that this government has been very supportive and will continue to be supportive of the RCMP. We have put significant resources into the RCMP. We've been there on the legislative side to make sure that our police services across the country have the tools to do the jobs that they need to do.

As I've traveled back and forth across the country, many of you know that every time I can, I stop in it at local detachments to talk with members. Talking at the side of the highway or sitting in the patrol cars. We've talked about issues and you've been open with me, you've shared with me that many of you feel that the new position has to be someone who is the best qualified for the job.

Many of you have been open and said it should be someone from within the RCMP. But almost all of you said that in the final analysis it should be somebody best for the job. I believe we have that person in Mr. William Elliott.

And as you know, even though this is a time of transition, those who want to hurt us, those who want to damage the security of Canada, don't take time out. They're not in transition. The organized criminals who want to see our young generation destroyed by drugs, the predators on the internet who go after our children, the people who are involved in identity theft and threatening the lives of our senior citizens, all of the people who want to do ill towards Canadians are still going about their jobs.

I know that you will still be going about your job today, 24/7, doing the things that you said in your hearts you wanted to do to keep this country safe. I want to thank you for doing that. I want to thank you for continuing to do this and I can assure you as we move into this transition time, the RCMP will continue to be known for its incredible capabilities of professionalism and integrity, not just here, but also around the world.

And in that context, I welcome you, William Elliott, as the new Commissioner of the RCMP. As you know and I know, Beverley Busson, the outgoing Commissioner, first female Commissioner of the RCMP, is giving her support to you and will be working with you to help you in this transition time. We thank her again for the great work she has done.

And I thank you for being willing to take on this tremendous role of heading up this police force whose men and women are out there every day protecting Canadians and keeping our country safe. I invite to you say a few words at this time. Congratulations.