Re: Lawyer clears IIO in Matters investigation
Tracey Matters points out that a review of the investigation into her brother's death failed to criticize the Independent Investigations Office for stating he was shot in the chest, not the back. It's noteworthy that the IIO's civilian monitor was appointed by the IIO.
In fact IIO director Richard Rosenthal initially refused to appoint anyone to review his handling of the Greg Matters case. Rosenthal changed his mind only after public pressure. Then he chose the appointee himself.
This is one of the weak points about the IIO--it's up to the agency's director to decide who gets appointed to review his work, or whether anyone reviews it at all. That leaves open the possibility that IIO monitors will show reluctance to criticize the agency that appoints them.
And while the B.C. Civil Liberties Association has belatedly become a critic of the IIO, the BCCLA cheered on the Liberals and NDP while they created a new investigative agency that falls far short of its supposed model, Ontario's Special Investigations Unit.
Greg Klein
Nanaimo, BC
