Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 21, 2012, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A10 A 10 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2012 CANADA winnipegfreepress. com WITH THE GRAND OPENING OF BIRCHWOOD KEYSTONE FORD, WE'RE CELEBRATING WITH OUR SWEET SIXTEEN S A L E S E V E N T SIXTEEN DAYS SIXTEEN DOLLARS SIXTEEN DEALERSHIPS Birchwood BMW 452.7799 MINI Winnipeg 897.6464 Birchwood Chevrolet Buick GMC 837.5811 Birchwood Honda On Regent 661.6644 Birchwood Kia 667.9993 Birchwood Hyundai 633.2420 Woodhaven Toyota 889.3700 Woodhaven Lexus 889.3700 Volvo Winnipeg 452.0756 Land Rover Winnipeg 452.8030 Birchwood Nissan 261.3490 Birchwood Infiniti 261.3490 Birchwood Honda West 888.2277 Birchwood Kia West 888.4542 Jaguar Winnipeg 452.8030 Birchwood Keystone Ford 661.9555 JUNE 2012 6 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 13 JUNE 14 TH TO JUNE 30 TH Dr ive .. i .. awa .. ! birchwood. ca VISIT ANY ONE OF OUR 16 DEALERSHIPS WHERE IF YOU HAVE $ 16.00 YOU COULD BE DRIVING AWAY IN THE CAR OF YOUR DREAMS! *$ 16 Drives it away is available on all purchase finance agreements for new and pre- owned vehicles until June 30, 2012 at all Birchwood dealerships O. 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Great Finance Rates on ALL Pre- Owned! 13813 km 19648 km 37426 km 5 Door. 56627 km 78870 km 106551 km 56062 km T HE RCMP's bureaucratic grievance and disciplinary system will be streamlined and the commissioner will have new powers to dismiss members for " non- disciplinary" reasons under legislation announced Wednesday by the Harper government. The legislation would replace the existing watchdog agency, the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP, with a new Civilian Review and Complaints Commission. It would also improve transparency in the handling of RCMP members who are suspected of committing serious crimes, officials said. The proposed reforms, announced by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews and RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson, are designed to address intense criticism the force has been slow and ineffective in responding to allegations of harassment and other grievances involving members of the force. Even Paulson himself has acknowledged in recent interviews, and in an open letter to Canadians, the force's disciplinary process is often bogged down in bureaucracy and punishment handed down to the force's " rotten apples" sometimes just " does not cut it." " Canadians' confidence in the RCMP has been tested over the past few years and this legislation will ensure the RCMP is fully accountable for its actions and is open and transparent in its service to Canadians," Toews said Wednesday in a statement. A major aim of the legislation is to streamline the grievance process, which the government says can sometimes take up to five years to resolve. Under the act, senior managers would be given a wider range of options to sanction members immediately, such as suspending pay. In more serious cases, the manager would still be required to refer the case to an adjudication board. However, the boards would have discretion to resolve cases without having to hold a formal hearing. " The formality and administrative burdens will be significantly reduced in favour of a fair, streamlined and proportionate system," according to a government background sheet. The legislation would also give the commissioner new powers to discharge members for a range of non- disciplinary reasons, including poor performance and absenteeism. A new Civilian Review and Complaints Commission would hold the same powers as the commission that it replaces but it would have additional powers, including the ability to compel witnesses to give evidence, review the RCMP's compliance with legislation and regulations and appoint civilian observers to assess the impartiality of criminal investigations involving their own. In addition, when Mounties fall under criminal investigation for serious incidents, the provinces would be given the authority to choose who they want to conduct the investigation - it could be an investigative body, such as Alberta's Serious Incident Response Team, or another police force. NDP public safety critic Randall Garrison praised parts of the legislation Wednesday. " On the face of it, it seems to give the commissioner new powers to deal with bad apples. That's a good thing," he said. But he said the legislation failed to address how the force was going to tackle concerns about alleged systemic workplace harassment. He also disputed the government's characterization of the new civilian review commission as " independent," saying it still would report to the minister of public safety. The proposed changes come at a time when the force is facing allegations of widespread systemic discrimination and harassment against female members in a proposed class- action lawsuit. The force also came under heavy criticism recently when it came to light an adjudication panel chose not to dismiss an Alberta Mountie, Sgt. Donald Ray, who had engaged in a " disturbing pattern" of activity, including having sex and drinking on the job. - Postmedia News RCMP to streamline disciplinary system By Douglas Quan Existing watchdog agency to be replaced with civilian commission TORONTO - Smog added to the misery in southern Ontario on Wednesday as a wide swath of central Canada sweated out the second straight day of scorching weather. The hot spell coming in from the U. S. has pushed the mercury from southwestern Ontario through to Quebec City to the low 30s, but it feels more like 40 degrees or more due to soaring humidex values, Environment Canada said. Cooler air is forecast to drop temperatures down into the 20s starting Friday. Smog advisories are in effect from Windsor to Kingston, and special heat alerts or heat warnings have been issued in several municipalities across the region, including Toronto, where cooling centres have been opened for people vulnerable to hot temperatures. Children, seniors and those with disabilities and chronic illnesses are most at risk during hot weather like this, said Paul Buttery, environmental health specialist for Lambton County in southwestern Ontario. Lambton County and the City of Sarnia have eight designated areas for people to take refuge from the heat, though Buttery said so far he hasn't heard of a jump in the number of people seeking emergency help for heat exhaustion, which can occur after several days of exposure to hot weather. If you're coming down with heat exhaustion, Buttery said, then " the best thing to do is stop all activity and seek a cool place, drink water and seek medical attention immediately if your symptoms worsen." The danger is heightened in areas under a smog alert. Breathing smog can have a big impact on lung health and lead to inflammation and swelling, but those at the greatest risk may not realize it until they break a sweat doing outdoor activities, cautioned Ted Boadway, a smog expert with the Ontario Medical Association. - The Canadian Press Ontario, Quebec wither in heat wave SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS Bob Paulson ( right) and Vic Toews announce reforms for the RCMP. A_ 10_ Jun- 21- 12_ FP_ 01. indd A10 6/ 20/ 12 9: 39: 14 PM ;