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Independent Investigation Office gets new boss

Ron MacDonald (right) is congratulated on becoming the new head of the Independent Investigations Office by Attorney General David Eby while Mike Farnworth looks on. Province of B.C. photo
Ron MacDonald (right) is congratulated on becoming the new head of the Independent Investigations Office by Attorney General David Eby while Mike Farnworth looks on. Province of B.C. photo

Attorney General David Eby announced today that Ron MacDonald has been appointed as the new chief civilian director (CCD) at B.C.’s Independent Investigations Office (IIO).

MacDonald comes to B.C. from Nova Scotia where he held a similar role as director of the Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT). He has been a lawyer for more than 30 years and spent much of his career working within the criminal justice system as both a Crown attorney and defence counsel.

“Police oversight is a fundamental pillar in a democratic society,” said MacDonald. “British Columbia is one of the leading provinces in its commitment to oversight of police and this is a great opportunity for me to provide the leadership and build on the great work that has already been done in this regard.”

This week, the IIO marks its fifth anniversary in operation, carrying out the mandate of conducting thorough and competent investigations of police-involved incidents resulting in death or serious harm.

The IIO is under the command and direction of the CCD – a role that is filled by a person who cannot have ever served as a police officer.

In addition to his years as a practising lawyer, MacDonald was a criminal law policy advisor at the Nova Scotia Department of Justice prior to his appointment as director of SIRT, past president of the Nova Scotia Barrister Society and past president of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. In 2007, he was awarded the National Heads of Prosecutions Humanitarian Award. MacDonald was also a volunteer coach in softball, and high school and university basketball, and worked at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

MacDonald will be assuming the role as of Oct. 24, 2017.

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