The federal government has named a Toronto lawyer to head the investigation into allegations related to the RCMP pension and insurance plans. David Brown, the former head of the Ontario Securities Commission, will be leading the probe. Brown headed the OSC for about seven years, beginning in 1995. "Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day says that David Brown brings significant experience in securities regulations and audits that will facilitate the conduct of this investigation," said CTV's Ottawa bureau Chief Robert Fife. "Here in Ottawa it's come as a bit of a surprise that they've picked a Toronto lawyer, although he does have expertise in some of these areas. Everyone had thought they would have picked a judge," Fife told CTV Newsnet.There have been questions about how effective the inquiry will be, because it will not have subpoena powers to force senior RCMP managers to appear before the inquiry and testify under oath. Day earlier announced he expects a public report from the independent investigation within eight to 12 weeks. Critics have called for a full judicial inquiry which would give investigators full subpoena power, but Day said such a probe would take much longer to obtain -- possibly up to several years -- and he wants answers now.
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