RCMP says no sign of interrupted investigations following FBI's outcry over CBC
New York Times reported attempt to temporarily halt FBI co-operation with Mounties
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RCMP → say → Mounties
The head of the RCMP says there's no evidence to suggest investigations were impacted following a report that FBI Director Kash Patel temporarily halted co-operation with the Mounties in retaliation for an internal CBC memo.
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Patel → say → memo
According to a New York Times story published last week, an irate Patel sought to punish the Canadian national law enforcement agency in the wake of a leaked internal memo from the public broadcaster instructing reporters to not refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorist attacks ahead of the 25th anniversary.
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Patel → accord → anniversary
The policy was amended following international outcry.
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policy → amend → outcry
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said he received no formal notification that the FBI would stop co-operation.
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FBI → say → operation
"My concern was the perception of the Canadian public with regards to 'did this really happen?'" he told reporters after appearing before a parliamentary committee on Thursday.
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he → happen → Thursday
"So we did do a little bit of research throughout the country and there's nothing that was reported that any of our investigations have stopped."
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any → do → investigations
Following the memo from CBC — which is editorially independent from the RCMP and the government at large — Patel put out a statement on X that "any agency in Canada that doesn't publicly reject this bastardization of history, and an insult to the souls lost during our largest terrorist attack in U.S. history will no longer have friend in this FBI."
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that → follow → FBI
According to the New York Times's sources, Patel sought to punish Canada and FBI officials cancelled meetings with their Canadian counterparts — telling them they would be out of touch for some time.
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they → accord → time
Duheme said he also heard Patel "told people not to go into the embassy those certain days, but there's no way for me to prove it," while stressing the RCMP's relationship with the FBI "remains very strong.
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relationship → say → FBI
"
U.S. intelligence-sharing to continue
Any kind of meaningful falling out with the FBI could be devastating for Canada.
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kind → continue → Canada
It's largely a net importer of intelligence and leans heavily on partnerships like the Fives Eyes — which includes the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand — to pass on information.
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which → lean → information
The RCMP and FBI have a longstanding partnership and collaborate on a range of issues from the shared border to terrorism and cybersecurity.
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RCMP → have → terrorism
Still, the two countries' intelligence and security alliance has been called into question since the re-election of U.S. President Donald Trump who has repeatedly goaded Canada with annexation rhetoric and started a trade war with his northern neighbour.
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who → call → neighbour
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From the RCMP's perspective, Duheme said there's no thought to reduce co-operation.
"How would it be perceived if you're withholding information and an incident actually happened?" he said.
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he → say → information
"We're all aware of the political environment we're operating in," Duheme said.
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Duheme → operate → environment
But he said the agencies share a common purpose: "Protecting the Americans, protecting Canadians, working together.
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agencies → say → Canadians
And I think that's what people would expect."
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people → think → what
The FBI has declined to comment on the New York Times report.
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FBI → decline → report
Asked about the report, a spokesperson for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said last week that it maintains "longstanding and mutually beneficial relationships with numerous agencies in the U.S. intelligence community.
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it → ask → community
"When it comes to security and intelligence, the FBI remains an important partner, and it is in our shared interest to continue working together."
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it → come → interest
CBC has a longstanding policy to generally avoid labelling specific acts as terrorism without attribution.
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CBC → have → attribution
Following the outcry, Basem Boshra, CBC's senior director of journalistic standards and public trust, issued a clarification on Aug. 28 saying "direct attribution is not required for describing the historic events of 9/11 as terrorism."
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attribution → follow → terrorism
When reached for comment, CBC spokesperson Chuck Thompson said "it's not our place to comment on matters between the FBI and the RCMP."
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it → reach → FBI
The Aporia
