Letter to the Editor

By way of background, I am a local lawyer based in the Kootenay-Columbia region, born and raised in Kimberley, and currently living in Invermere. The purpose of this letter is to air questions that have been circulating on the background of Rob Morrison, the Conservative Party of Canada candidate for the Kootenay-Columbia riding, and his ties to the region.

This letter is not intended in any way to disrespect Mr. Morrison, who has an honourable and decorated career with the RCMP and in the private sector.

Rob Morrison’s biography on the Conservative Party’s website states that “Rob Morrison has lived and worked in the Kootenay-Columbia region for the past 40 years.”

A review of Mr. Morrison’s LinkedIn profile indicates the following experience:

–  Conservative Party of Canada. Creston, B.C. November 2018 – Present;

–  RAM Strategic Security Consulting. Cranbrook, B.C. March 2014- November 2018;

–  Gatekeeper Systems Inc. Vancouver/United States. April 2013 – February 2014;

–  Treasury Board of Canada, Secretariat. Ottawa/Vancouver. June 2012 – April 2013;

–  RCMP. Pacific Region, February 2003 – June 2012;

–  RCMP. Islamabad, Pakistan. December 2001 – February 2003;

–  RCMP. Vancouver. November 1999 – December 2001.

For voters in the Kootenay-Columbia, it would be helpful for Mr. Morrison to clarify how his impressive work experience (per his LinkedIn profile) has been connected to the Kootenay- Columbia region for the past 40 years?

For instance, for his time with the RCMP/Pacific Region, during what years was he based in the Kootenay-Columbia? Has Mr. Morrison resided in the Kootenay-Columbia for 40 consecutive years, and if not, how many years in total has he resided here over the last 40 years?

Based on public documents available online (see below), it appears that Mr. Morrison was likely based in Vancouver in 2007-2008, during the Robert Dziekanski incident. As most people remember, during an arrest by the RCMP at the Vancouver International Airport, Robert Dziekanski, a Polish immigrant to Canada, was killed, which sparked some level of international interest.

Mr. Morrison is referred to in a report relating to this incident.

In particular, Mr. Morrison is referred to in the Report Following a Public Interest Investigation into a Chair-Initiated Complaint Respecting the Death in RCMP Custody of Mr. Robert Dziekanski (the “Dziekanski Investigation” or “Dziekanski Report”).

At page 50 of the Dziekanski Report, under the heading “Media Releases,” it is stated:

“The RCMP has been criticized with respect to certain statements made by its members in the media following the death of Mr. Dziekanski. On November 13, 2007 the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) made a complaint to this Commission, pursuant to Part VII of the RCMP Act. The complaint contained a number of allegations with respect to some of the RCMP media statements made in the days following the death of Mr. Dziekanski and with respect to the possession of the Pritchard video by the RCMP. The BCCLA complaint also alleged that the RCMP provided a subjective version to the public of the events which led to Mr. Dziekanski’s death.

“As per process under the RCMP Act, the complaint was referred to the RCMP for investigation. In a report dated December 23, 2008 and signed by Chief Superintendent Rob Morrison, Officer in Charge of Operations Strategy Branch, “E’ Division, Vancouver, provided to the BCCLA, Chief Superintendent Morrison stated that the RCMP investigation found no basis in any of the allegations made by the BCCLA. He went on to say that Sergeant Lemaitre (the RCMP media relations officer) was provided operational guidance by him (Chief Superintendent Morrison) with respect to keeping notes.” [emphasis added]

It should be further noted that the Dziekanski Report contains a finding that “The RCMP should have released certain information to the media which would have served to clarify information pertaining to the death of Mr. Dziekanski and correct erroneous information previously provided without compromising the IHIT investigation.”

In summary, Mr. Morrison obviously has an impressive resume. What is less clear is how his experience corresponds to the assertion that Mr. Morrison “has lived and worked in the Kootenay-Columbia region for the past 40 years.”

Over the last 40 years, and aside from his recent experience with the Conservative Party of Canada and RAM Strategic Security Consulting, during which years has he been based in this riding?

I expect that the voters of the Kootenay-Columbia riding would much appreciate clarification from Mr. Morrison on this issue.

Jeffrey Martin,

Invermere

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