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A SENIOR POLICE intelligence officer arrested last week for allegedly stealing sensitive documents had access to information from Canada’s foreign allies, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has said.
Cameron Ortis, who was arrested on Thursday, served as the Director General of the RCMP’s National Intelligence Coordination Centre.
He “had access to information the Canadian intelligence community possessed,” the RCMP commissioner said in a statement.
“He also had access to intelligence coming from our allies both domestically and internationally,” said Commissioner Brenda Lucki.
“We are aware of the potential risk to agency operations of our partners in Canada and abroad,” the statement said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.
Lucki did not specify which foreign organisations may have been exposed to the theft of secrets, which allegedly took place between 2016 and 2019, though Canada is a member of the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance with Australia, New Zealand, Britain and the United States.
Ortis had access to material that could cause a “high” degree of damage to the country and its allies if released, CBC reported, citing a report prepared by Canadian intelligence services.
“Analysis of the contents of the reports could reasonably lead a foreign intelligence agency to draw significant conclusions about allied and Canadian intelligence targets, techniques, methods and capabilities,” the report said.
“This type of information is among the most highly protected of national security assets, by any government standard and goes to the heart of Canada’s sovereignty and security,” it said.
The Globe and Mail reported on Saturday that Ortis’s arrest was linked to a major investigation into the laundering of stolen Russian funds.
Ortis, 47, as recently as August was said to be overseeing a probe into whether some of the money was funneled through Canada.
According to the Globe and Mail, the corruption investigation was looking at a $230-million fraud scheme allegedly run by senior Russian interior ministry and tax officials.
Ortis, who has worked for the RCMP since 2007, faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the five charges brought against him under Canada’s criminal code and its Security of Information Act.
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Two words spring to mind, “mountain” and “molehill”.
@Josh Hanners: may not be 100% newsworthy but I get her frustration. She’s entitled to make an issue out of this. It’s the journals choice to pick the story up. And they chose to do so as I assume they think others would understand her problem with this. I know I do
@Josh Hanners: Well, on one hand I can see why people are saying “mountain and molehill.” On the other, it’s the banks duty to correctly inform customers, potential or otherwise, of correct procedures and to accurately establish a person’s identity, complete with identification. An employee, supposedly trained by the bank, failed to follow correct procedures. The question must be asked if they are also lacking in this area for other customers. I don’t believe they intentionally tried to offend. But, they are in a critical position in society and should abide by correct procedure.
@Josh Hanners: when you hear only one incident, certainly it seems like an over reaction. However, when you experience something like this over and over, it gets a bit much.
I’m a mix of Irish and English.. I have gotten abuse from both sides because of this. I also have an obscure accent, which has resulted in me being yelled at in public for being American, English, and eastern European. I’ve had people refuse to believe I’m Irish, after hearing me talk, even after I show them my passport, stating my nationality is Irish. I’ve had threats when showing my passport for ID, to have it confiscated for forgery because I’m certainly not Irish. One of the frustrating things in all this, is that when I get upset, my accent gets very English and I have no control over it, which makes me seem even more like a fraud.
Ironically, if I speak another language, I will develop an appropriate accent. I’ve had people think I’m German and Spanish when speaking those languages. And if I speak Irish, my accent becomes more distinctly irish.
If you were to encounter me upset after a single incident, you might think it an overreaction, however there is often a history of similar incidents.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: the trick there is to speak in Irish. The idiot examining the Passport probably will recognize that it is Irish but might not have sufficient Irish to hold a conversation!!!!!!
@Josh Hanners: two more words,victimization,compensation?
@Josh Hanners: what else would you say?
@Mirabelle Stonegate: I’d say you’d get upset if someone did an eggy fart beside you.
@Brian Ó Dálaigh: Its the bank staff’s duty to correctly assess a situation, which means that they should not have simply jumped to conclusions and asked the student what their nationality was. Its not so much racism as an inability to think outside of narrow, conformist mindsets.
@Josh Hanners: to you perhaps but it didnt happen to you.
This will be perfect for when the PC Brigade wake up tomorrow afternoon, long after everyone else has gotten up for work, ready to get offended before a long day of complaining online
@Alex Nevin: I’ve seen this exact statement used for Sinn Fein supporters. As far as I know there is little to support the assertion that PC people don’t work. Btw.. I disagree with the PC culture myself because I think it goes over the top at times. With that said this story isn’t as silly as some commenters are saying. I agree it would be an easy mistake to make because the girl has Chinese features but surely a professional institution such as a bank would have better procedures to avoid this. She’s as Irish as any of us. Born and reared here. She has a right to be pissed off when assumptions are made. Ever hear of Irish people getting pissed off when asked if they’re from England? One of my daughters is black but she has a thick Carlow accent. I imagine she would be annoyed with that
@Mick Murphy: if I was born in China to Irish parents and lived there I can guarantee I’d be presumed forgein.
@Hardly Normal: I’m not doubting that. I said it in my post that it would be an easy mistake to make. The point I am trying to make is that mistakes like that are understandable in everyday interactions and I’m sure this girl is used to them but when it comes to the bank a higher expectation is there with regards to their procedures. They are very insistent on anyone looking for services from them to have all the documentation they decide they need and that the customer does everything correctly to the nth degree so that should be a 2 way street. I don’t blame the individual in the bank. I’m saying the bank as an entity should have procedures that prevent this happening and saving the embarrassment of that girl
@Hardly Normal:
And that would be just as dumb. Why are you saying two wrongs make a right?
Ireland has been monocultural for too long. Thank goodness things are changing.
@Mick Murphy: well ya, all it would take is a “where were you born” question on an application form. It doesn’t warrant this kind of attention though, a load of bollocks is all it is.
@ted hagan: I’m not saying two wrongs make a right , I’m saying people will be presumptuous and judge a book by it’s cover.
@Hardly Normal: They are supposed to ask that. That’s the problem. They simply made wrong assumptions, and in doing so essentially denied someone a service on the basis of their ethnicity.
@Laura Farrell: she wasn’t denied anything by the bank she denied herself there and then because she walked away and went to a different bank.
What did I just read ? The bank has apologised for their mistake already. This whole story is a perfect example of a snow flake and is a poorly written article at that.
#PrayforSarah
Pity my original comment was deleted. So I’ll repost the gist of it here.
As an ethnically Chinese person who grew up in Ireland in the 80’s (when it was rare not to be white) I experienced a lot of racism.
The trick to getting over this is to drop the victimhood mentality and to own your identity. Otherwise you’ll never progress in life. You’re Irish, but you have a unique outsider’s perspective that you can use to your advantage personally and professionally. Des Bishop built a whole career on this fact alone.
I never felt truly Irish until I lived abroad and then I realised ”Jesus, I’m as Irish as f**k”. Sometimes you need to step away to get that perspective. That’s when I realised that 95% of Irish people are really sound and there’s just a tiny vocal minority of scobes on the street. Don’t let the fact that someone has called you names on the street influence how you perceive the other people you meet. Otherwise you’ve let the racists win: they’ve dragged you down to their level. Another important thing is that the Irish like to slag each other, it’s a cultural thing. But actually it’s a really nice way to become informal with people and get to know them better. The art of the slag is quite subtle and when you’ve experienced racial abuse on the street it can take some getting used to. If someone slags you, they’re basically seeing if you’re any craic. And there’s nothing worse in Ireland than being no craic: it’s even worse than being Chinese ;-)
Enjoy college Sarah, it’s a great time in your life.
@Tim Horton: What’s it like being a middle aged privileged White Man feels good for you Eh?
@Ossi Fritsche: Did you just assume his race?! How racist of you Ossi.
@Ossi Fritsche: This happened to me in China once, the old Chinese privilege.
@Ossi Fritsche: you’re assuming I’m a middle aged white male. Oh how wrong. I’m offended. Should I contact the journal for my own piece- eh?
Was born in Irish? Don’t you mean Ireland?
@David Markey: she’ll be reporting the journal next
@David Markey: The sub-header was unedited, typical of some Journo writers. Read the full report to see it wrote right.
@Canny Jem: wrote?
@Dave Ringer: Heh heh – I writ that deliberately to see if anyone noticed.
@Canny Jem: wrote
@shellakybooky: a brigade of Grammar Nazis on here today
@William Flynn: Reporting FOR the Journal next.
AIB should be forced to close down, countrywide. This is completely unacceptable. How dare they make an honest mistake which they subsequently apologised for. In fact, shut down all the banks so none of them can make this mistake again.
And execute the person who made a mistake. On a crucifix. Its Easter and all that.
@Mark Brown: Well you might be right about shutting them down but for all the dishonest ‘mistakes’ they make
@Mark Brown: if she went there with her passport, I assume it was her Irish passport, they I don’t understand the reaction of the bank. The passport says clearly she’s Irish, then it shouldn’t be an issue at all. If the bank employee decided to get that letter despite her Irish passport, then clearly there is a problem here.
@Vincent: The passport had a cover so it was not recognisable from the outside. I know that the employee should have asked her to show it but apparently she/he didn’t.
@Mark Brown: This isn’t an honest mistake though, the ‘honest mistake’ happened multiple times. If it’s happened in this instance it’s fair to assume it’s happened with others too.
@Mark Brown: I agree AIB should be shut down and the rest not just for this, They are corrupt as f… and brought this country to its knees. We will bailing them out until the day we die.
@Vincent: As I’ve repeatedly said, the staff members would have to be fairly thick to not notice that. Its more a lack of general basic competence than prejudice I think.
@Jesus Christ: Haven’t you other things to be concerned about this weekend?
The bank manager met the customer and apologised. Why did she then feel the need to go have an article written?
Human makes error, human apologises for error. Le fin.
@Damian Baker: she likely thought the bank would lodge €4000 in to her account.
@Damian Baker: because the bank is still 75% owned by the state. So it is of public interest. AIB need to really start doing something about their hiring policy.
As annoying as this was for the girl in question it’s quite clearly not remotely newsworthy. It is however a wonderful article for drawing plenty of activity in the comments section. The PC, anti PC, snowflake, anti snowflake back and forth will generate plenty of clicks. The evolution (read: death) of journalism
I’ve travelled all over the world. I am personally born Irish to Irish parents and Irish grandparents and so forth, and no doubt I’d be accused of not understanding a persons plight or being in their shoes. However I’ve been embarrassed in many situations in various countries. I’ve been assumed to be English which can be inferred as a bad thing as people tend to have a preconceived attitude to English abroad too. But one thing I’ve never done is get upset about it.People are human.Some make mistakes and some are downright idiots.Life goes on.If however you carry around a chip on your shoulder like this young lady then you will already colour your interactions with people for your entire life.
@JustOneScoop: She needs to start thinking if that is what she wants to do. Situations happen to everyone colour and crede asside.You don’t own embarrassment nor do you own preconceived notions on your person.Homeless people for example get judged everyday of the life.Probably by her too.
Ahh come on now……build a bridge….
It must be exhausting for her to be so offended at everything. Build a bridge and all that ..
@Darcy: You do know that the Chinese Community in Dublin want to take over part of Parnell St and call it Dublin’s ‘Chinatown”, don’t you? Seems DCC is in favour if it too, for tourist reasons.
@Canny Jem: oh no! They allowed that in New York and now everyone in Manhattan is forced to eat noodles for breakfast lunch and dinner. Slippery slope.
Ireland needs a judge Judy (judge jacinta) show to deal with this sort of “outrageous” stuff. First episode – “Brendan, the albino trans one legged traveller who left school after his junior cert has failed his NCT. Brendan claims the car tester assumed his gender.”
Next time I see an “exclusive” news story on here there had better be at least a celebrity baby on the way or I am cancelling my free subscription.
A great bunch of lads
I’m sort of hoping they didn’t open an account for her.
“I’m so used to getting Racism towards me…” Says it all.
Get over it for gods sake!
My family has being in Ireland since the 11th century. I was registering in TCD in 1987 as a student and they asked me what country I was from!!! God damn Dubs!
Would not mind but half of Dublin back then went to Wexford for their holidays where my surname is well known. For feck sake…
@Lar Meyler: I’m Dutch but often they ask me if I’m German. I politely explain the difference. And that’s it. Nothing important to be offended. Mostly a good icebreaker to a nice conversation.
@Hans Vos: the Wexford man was a Yellow Belly. Definitely racial discrimination!!!!
@Hans Vos: I am American and often get asked if I am Canadian because of my particular accent. I do not generally mind but if you swap that around the Canadians gets extremely offended LOL
She’s dead right not to be happy about this. These kind of stories are embarrassing..might not seem like a big deal to some people but it would be if it happened to them
@Ronan McDermott: What’s embarrassing is that this is considered an ‘Exclusive’.
@Luke Lee: it’s the journals choice to run it. They have a guy in their office picking news stories from the news outlets. He clicks and it gets ran on the journal. Some of our population would have interest in this story. Why wouldn’t they ? They’re Irish too.
@Ronan McDermott: how dare you assume my nationality
@Ronan McDermott: Of course she is – if she was discriminated against at the point of opening an account what else would she experience pushback over? The bank need to do something about raising the competence of their staff. Or stop hiring those with the lowest possible number of brain cells.
Boooooring
No story here, genuine mistake made and apology issued, call an engineer, build a bridge, and get over it
Must be a slow news day
“I’m so used to getting Racism towards me…” wtf?
By far the greatest injustice perpetrated by AIB on Irish people in our generation & thanks for highlighting it .
Would a substantial court award help ease the pain of carrying this large chip on your shoulder?
Obviously the reverse could never happen to a white person born in China.
Obviously an Apology is not good enough. I mean you singled out, probally the lowest paid bank clerk. Who will face disciplinary actions.Few grand should sort things out.
I am off out now, to be outraged for assuming I am a Man, Irish and over 18. Failing that, a fall on a aisle will have to do.
That’s nothing. All White people are presumed privileged soley based on their skin colour. Far more damaging presumption.
@Luke Lee: ironically, your comment reflects your privilege as a white male considering you view that as a far more damaging presumption…
@Fred: Having a view on something does not determine privilege. Are you a bit special? I’ll go easy if you are.
Get over yourself Sarah, it was an easy mistake!
“(S)taff made an assumption about her race…” The Journal is confusing race with nationality. If the student’s parents are from China, I would imagine her racial background was apparent. The bank staff made an assumption about her nationality. I would not be surprised if this happened to me, if I were opening a bank account in China. Maybe the confusion could have been averted, if the student explained at the time that she is Irish.
Jeez…just get over yourself!! Take the cover off your passport then!!
Such a load of nonsense, grow up girl.
“Made an assumption about here race” to which they were correct shes Chinese or Asian having been born to Chinese parents. Its here nationality that’s the issue and that’s a very simple mistake to make like mixing up someone’s name. Apologies made and of.
@Opinionated: to be fair, it is a question that a bank should be asking rather than making an assumption. It’s a regulatory issue to me, not a race one as the article is making out
Exclusive ? Highly unlikely!
Seriously did Sarah ever say what her status was, get a grip Journal you ticks!
Well if this is the case what about Irish people applying for visas into China through the Chinese embassy in Ballsbridge, the wrong form is supplied first of all and when that’s filled out and posted cause the website specifically states you can post it in, you wait because if you ring the embassy, they never answer, when the ten days pass, you go to the embassy because you can’t ring, your told they don’t deal with posted applications, and your handed your letter in the same envelope back unopened, you have to queue for hours outside in the cold until your turn comes and the lady just picks everything up looks at it gives you very little explanation and if it’s wrong throws it back at you and shouts at you some more, then when you try to check the same website it’s not online anymore,
Amazing how such a non-story makes it onto the journals page. Well done Hayley, outstanding reporting.
Exclusive. Business makes honest mistake. Heads will roll for this.
Article starts that she was “born in Irish” – now that’s Irish!
@Michael Kavanagh: “brú níos mó! brú níos mó!”
When I walk in to AIB they look at me and think I’m Irish and bejesus they are correct.
I see TV3 (Virgin) have reported on this article saying it was about “Race” now rather than where she was domiciled. Rather less than genuine reporting from Virgin, just stirring the pot for faux shock factor.
That was so long an article for no reason at all.
She’s right, they shouldn’t have presumed.
@Rochelle: did you just assume their gender?
@Seán O’Sullivan: good point, the person is being referred to as she, how do we know if that’s ok
i love Ireland, but the Irish ‘s understanding of what happens when shoe is on the other foot never seem to amaze me. if you have not been treated this way , abstain from comments. Even if the article was overrated etc, don ‘ t try and deal with something you do not have first hand experience of and at best,on a daily / weekly/ monthly basis.
Problem is , each person after does not realize what has happened with one before. so the cycle continues. on and on.
Trust me.
I conclude that we have learnt to embrace the Irish racism? as forwardness and being direct and tell ourselves we appreciate it above all else. Since where in the world to you make friends like here? Trust me, nowhere.
Long live the Irish and : where r ye from?
@Odendaal Marius: I’ve lived abroad for many a year and your post is just full of nonsensical jibberish so I’ve you don’t like life or where you live then do what any normal person would do ! Maybe your new neighbour’s might be more understandable to your plight of self centred, wheres me mammy??, crying !!
@Odendaal Marius: “I conclude we have learnt to embrace the Irish racism” ???? Ha
The bank clerk made an assumption,witch means it was not intentional,not racist.Probably has said thing to Polish,Russian or Latvians without issue…
She was born in Irish?
Given the fact that there a thousands of chinese coming here to study every year, it was an understandable mistake. Yes they should have asked her was she an Irish citizen, but she’ll get over it.
Stopped reading about a third of the way in, who cares non start journal
Get over yourself love,b
“I hear you’re a racist now Father”
That bates banagher, a load of waffle
Uneducated yellow pack staff working in the bank. Anyone with half a brain would have know how to deal with the potential customer. But then the banks don’t want to deal with customers anymore.
@Ian James Burgess: what has education to do with it? Anyone is capable of making what sounds like an honest mistake, whether they have a doctorate or left school at 14.
Slow news day ???? Let’s make an international incident out of a misunderstanding
I thought journalism was all about free speech ??
Yet I post a comment with no swear words or racist/ethnic insults and they won’t post it ??
Stand up or sit down .
Genuine mistake…apology given…snowflake offended. 1st world problems.
Im confused is she an irish snowflake or a international snowflake?
She is Chinese?! An understandable error
I would imagine it’s not the first time this has happened to this student so I feel like this headline is sensationalist. As a nation a few decades ago most Chinese people here were Chinese nationals. I would hazard a guess that the person who made this assumption did so on the basis of old preconceptions and not with the intention to insult or offend. I would also imagine they’ll be more mindful going forward. Also, it wouldn’t do any harm for that particular student to state they’re an Irish National if they know people tend to assume otherwise.
I’ve been told I don’t look Irish but then my accent leaves no doubt that I’m from Dublin. I don’t get offended if people think I’m Dutch, American or Swedish
Having read the first few lines this is a non story, journal please stop wasting my time
Oh for god’s sake, open your mouth and say the following “i’m Irish, I’m not an international student”.
If any of the staff had bothered to look at the passport, this whole thing could have been avoided. It’s inadequate training and I hate to say it, but a bit of racial profiling. I can understand how people who have never experienced this sort of treatment may not get what the big deal is but that doesn’t mean Sarah was over-reacting. Three people made the same assumption and even when she had her passport on day 2, nobody looked at it. It’s not her job to point out to bank staff that the passport she had out is Irish!
Another day, another person’s (is that genderly correct) feelings hurt!!! BooHoo!!
It appears that comments on this are as fickle as peoples agendas….absolute uproar when the banks treated Irish citizens with contempt during the crash but no problem when the banks treat an Irish citizen like ‘Sh***’ simply because they dont fit in with their narrow minded view of what an Irish citizen might look like in 2019!!
Many of the comments are completely the point. This is largely about identity and what newer generations of immigrants feel like wanting to fit in but not quite doing so because they look a bit different. I agree that maybe it’s not newsworthy but wouldn’t it be great if it was and if not where would we get insight into how minorities or the marginalised in society feel. I would certainly prefer a society where this was newsworthy rather than some of the gruesome crimes we are all too familiar with that are becoming so much the norm that in time they in turn won’t be newsworthy.
The girl has a legitimate complaint but we are constantly being bombarded from all angles by people telling us how we should think, feel and label that it has become so tiresome that we have become hardened and opted for collective myopia to others sensitivities.
@Wayne Kerr: * meant to say completely missing the point.
Oh no! Someone made an innocent, innocuous assumption about someone in 2019! Quick! Make the media aware of this outrage!
What resolution was she looking for as per her comments ? She seems to have got an apology. Hardly racist or is she looking for compo?
@The Exhibition Guy – Stephan Murtagh: This is 2019 Stephan, everything is racist these days.
There will be a two minute silence tomorrow to remember all those brave Sarah’s who fell victim to the AIB scandal. Don’t forget to change your Facebook profile picture too.
#PrayForSarah
Right out of Fr. Ted https://youtu.be/nC7s17K2uMY
I have never heard anything so ridiculous as this complaint. The person in question is of Chinese extraction.The bank official could be forgiven for assuming she was not Irish. I’m sure no insult was intended. Why did the student not show her Irish passport at the 1st interview? It seems to me that the student is trying to justify her own behaviour by blaming the bank employee for her own idiocy. She should apologise .
Oh for god’s sake, open your mouth and repeat “ i’m not an international student”.
I found the section of above article referring to the racist abuse she received when she was walking in public areas more important. The people that she came across presumably made the same assumption about her nationality and perhaps this issue should receive the same prominence as the bank incident.
Another sensitive soul.
Not sure what the problem is? A bank employee made a mistake, the company has apologised.
Sure I’ve had sectarian abuse thrown at me and I just get on with it after standing my corner.
Typical snowflake
I’m guessing there wouldn’t have been a wrong assumption made if she had’ve walked in saying howaya lads. Maybe she’s spent the last 20 years speaking her parents lingo at home? #Tebbit test
Its not difficult, she isn’t Irish so someone assumed she came from somewhere else and yes Virginia the Irish are an ethnic group. if you supported travellers ethnic ‘rights’ and deny Irish ethnic right you are a hypocrite
@Wayne Kerr: Oh my, whatever could you mean!?
If a passport is not neccessary to open an AIB bank account by an Irish student, then it is racial discrimination to assume that this student is not Irish just because of her Asian features.
Ireland has to realise that it is in the 21st C and spruce-up its laws accordingly. For example , I am not allowed to drive my own car in Ireland because Irish insurers will not offer me car insurance because I hold a non-EU driving licence. I was born in Ireland and I have been an Irish citizen from birth and I live in Ireland 4 months of the year.
This is a blatant example of Ireland discriminating against its own citizens!
This is less about systemic racism than AIB’s practice of hiring people who are thick as s**t. You always know the AIB workers on the DART, because they are the ones reading “company condifential” documents in full view of the whole train.
This student was obviously proud to be Irish and deserved to be treated as such.
For all our progress, we’re still a narrow, conservative, blinkered little island.
@ted hagan: really! How?
Recent referendums beg to differ
The staff need training.
@Wayne Kerr: Oh my, whatever could you mean!!?
How surprising ? In 2003 When EU citizen want to open an account they could not have a credit card or an overdraft for 6 months … But when an UK citizen did the same he could have all of this … The banking culture is made of old vintage thinking that NEED TO GO !
Presume this is just bad journalism. The issue was with her nationality not her race. Born in Ireland = Irish. Born of two Chinese parents. Race = Chinese.
injustice :(:(:(
injustice :(:(:(
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