Thank you, Madam Speaker. When an individual is arrested and charged, it is within the decision-making of the RCMP whether or not to release the name. I can't take a role in terms of making a choice or directing their operations, although I am confident that, when appropriate, when there are no other factors of safety or other ongoing investigations, they do generally release those names by way of a media release quite promptly. When an individual is detained by the RCMP in the course of a program or in the course of another investigation, if they are detained but released without charge, that individual is just that; they are not charged. There can be any number of reasons why somebody might be arrested or detained at the same time as others. If the RCMP determine that they do not have the legal authority to hold them or charge them, then nor would it be appropriate for them to be releasing their name. I expect that that may be a source of frustration when it is not known as to whether or not there is a certain number of people who have been arrested and why they are not all being named, but it's, in fact, of course, because not all of them have been charged under the investigation. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Caroline Wawzonek on Question 134-19(2): Release of Names of those Involved in RCMP Drug Operations
In the Legislative Assembly on March 2nd, 2020. See this statement in context.
Question 134-19(2): Release of Names of those Involved in RCMP Drug Operations
Oral Questions
March 2nd, 2020
Page 402
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