By Canadian Press

Letter shows minister wanted commanding officer of New Brunswick RCMP replaced

Oct 20, 2021 | 9:33 AM

FREDERICTON — The commanding officer of the RCMP in New Brunswick will be replaced at the end of the month, and now a letter has surfaced that suggests provincial Attorney General Hugh Flemming forced him out of the job. 

In the letter to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, dated July 15, 2021, Flemming says Assistant Commissioner Larry Tremblay “no longer commands my confidence,” and must be replaced.

Flemming goes on to say the force needs to revise its priorities in order to address drug crime in the province and reverse the trend of diminishing RCMP accountability to local government leaders.

University of New Brunswick law professor Nicole O’Byrne says, according to the province’s agreement with the RCMP, the minister is within his right to seek the removal of the officer, but without knowing Flemming’s exact reasons, it creates a perception of political interference in policing.

Angela Chang, the director of strategic communications for the New Brunswick RCMP, said in an email that the force is on track to meet all of its key performance indicators dealing with drug crimes.

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She said Tremblay made a personal decision to retire at the end of October after more than 35 years of service, and he would not provide an interview.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2021.

The Canadian Press