RCMP's Zaccardelli was a real jetsetter

Top cop preferred private plane By Kathleen Harris Canoe
OTTAWA -- Canada's former top cop hopped aboard an RCMP plane instead of a less-costly commercial flight for 72 trips in the past two years. Documents obtained under access to information show Giuliano Zaccardelli, who resigned last month after bungling testimony to MPs on the Maher Arar affair, used a pricey jet to commute to Toronto four times in an 11-day stretch.

Guidelines for cabinet ministers require senior politicians to seek less expensive commercial flights before using a government Challenger jet, but no such rule exists for the RCMP.
Spokesman Sgt. Martin Blais said the federal police force's 39 aircraft are stationed across the country and are used primarily in support of police operations such as emergency response, national security, transferring federal prisoners and transporting personnel. Blais said the planes and helicopters are operated on a cost-efficient manner, and said the commissioner would not occupy a plane alone.

"He doesn't fly alone on the plane. When he goes to a place, he'll take as many members as need to go, or he will tag along with other members who are using the plane," he said.
In 2005, Zaccardelli used an RCMP plane for 41 return trips, up from just 14 the year before. Trips included short-hauls to Toronto, Montreal, Buttonville and London, Ont., as well as longer flights to Haiti, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Inuvik.

Before he was forced to resign last year, the top Mountie had racked up 31 return trips on an in-house jet, including flights to Washington and North Carolina. Blais said the commissioner would take an RCMP plane to attend change-of-command ceremonies, funerals, visits to detachments and meetings with political leaders and other operations requirements.

John Williamson, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said the number of flights on the more costly RCMP plane seemed "excessive," especially for serial short-haul flights. "Did I miss a general airline strike?" he quipped. With a changing of the top guard at the RCMP, Williamson said it's an opportune time to develop rules for using the planes for non-emergency or operational flights. Gerry Nicholls, vice-president of the National Citizens Coalition, said the RCMP commissioner should follow the same rules as government officials and take cheaper commercial flights whenever possible.