The Rodgers Brief

This week we welcome back former Halifax Police and RCMP officer, Calvin Lawrence, author of 'Black Cop', to discuss the new book by retired Toronto Police homicide detective Hank Idsinga. Idsinga has made allegations of anti-sematic racism at the highest levels of the Toronto Police service in national interviews this week. Also, the NS government had committee hearings this week to discuss progress in the 25 recommendations for the Desmond Inquiry. Adam was counsel to the Desmond family during this Inquiry, and explains how the government and opposition parties are all missing the central issues of the Inquiry, relating to military medical records and PTSD in our soldiers. Also discussed this week, we read two letters that we received after last week's NS Mass Shooting 6th anniversary show, one critical and one complimentary. Finally, we give an assessment of the trial of William Majcher, the former RCMP officer charged under the Security of Information Act with attempting to assist the Chinese government in their efforts to bring a suspected fraudster back to China to face charges. A three week jury trial was reduced to a judge alone trial that lasted only a few days.

This week, we welcome former RCMP officer, Rob Creasser, who was involved in the formation of the RCMP union, and who has thoughts (and breaking news) on the National Police Federation, and it's (now former) head, Brian Sauve. Also covered this week;The Premier of Nova Scotia called for respect for the RCMP, after vehicles were damaged following raids on cannabis dispensaries located on First Nations property.The former head of the Public Prosecution Service in Cape Breton, Kathryn Pentz, is suing the PPS and Justice Department after she was demoted last year. A jail guard is being sentenced for breach of trust after smuggling drugs into the Northeast Nova jail in Pictou County, NS. The case provides some insights into the market for drugs in the jail system.

This week, Paul and Adam discuss the National Police Federation election controversy, the Attorney General's report on RCMP staffing levels, the RCMP's "expression of regret" for spying on Indigenous leaders (including former National Chief George Manuel) in the 1970's, and the arguments in the Supreme Court over Quebec's controversial legislation to prevent public servants from wearing religious symbols. Paul starts the show with a story of a meeting he had with a former biker gang leader, and then the guys discuss the resignations of two board members of the National Police Federation, over allegations that union leadership was trying to control nominations for the board of directors. This comes as the NPF is being sued over $3.39 million in payments to some of those board members. Also discussed this week, the Tiger Woods DUI arrest, the Justin King bail matter out of Newfoundland, Gladue Reports, and Halifax Police posing as homeless people begging for change in order to investigate traffic and criminal violations.

This week, it is just Adam and Paul, discussing the week's news and released cases. There is breaking news this week, as the guys discuss former spy Cameron Ortis being granted early parole from his 14 year jail sentence. This story was national news when Mr. Ortis was tried and convicted, but his being granted parole has not been covered by any mainstream media outlet. Also this week, a judge in Nova Scotia has rendered a decision that 'deep fake' nude images created by AI are not captured by the Criminal Code, acquitting a man who used AI to make nude pictures of former classmates. Also discussed, the upcoming book on the RCMP, 'Red Alert', by Kent Roach, a sentencing decision from Alberta where the judge reduced the sentence by one year due to threats from the Edmonton Police to release more information on the case if they did not approve of the judge' sentence, and the death of New Brunswick serial killer, Allan Legere.

This week we welcome documentary filmmaker, Amy Herdy, of Cove Tower, based out of Boulder, Colorado. Amy is looking into making a documentary on the NS mass shootings after having read Paul's books on the subject. She discusses the industry, why she thinks no documentaries have been made to date about the shootings, and how she is different from other filmmakers. Also this week, Paul and Adam discuss the Open AI meeting with federal ministers in the wake of the Tumbler Ridge school shootings. Should there be an inquiry into the school shootings.Former NS Justice Minister Becky Druhan's seems to harbour ambitions to take on her former leader, Premier Tim Houston. She hinted at those ambitions in an interview she gave with CBC Information Morning, in the midst of Premier Houston's worst week as Premier.

This week, we bring a special guest, who's name most will not recognize. Melissa Ellsworth was a forensics nurse and correctional guard who suffered a head injury trying to save an elderly woman from a dangerous patient. She has been battling Workers Compensation ever since, and has now been approved for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). She tells her story.Before hearing from Melissa, Paul and Adam discuss the school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, BC, including what we might be able to conclude from what we know about the shooter, their family, and their background. Seemingly connected to this tragedy was the announcement late this week from the Minister of Public Safety that the federal government will be sticking with the RCMP in more or less its current form. While we were waiting for Melissa Ellsworth to get connected, Adam told Paul about a Nova Scotia case that went to the Supreme Court of Canada, which turned on the question of whether pretending to do a magic act where women were sawed in half was an act which was sexual in nature. Finally, a happy birthday to Paul, who celebrates an undisclosed birthday today.

This week, guests Scott McLeod (brother of the late Sean McLeod) and Retired Deputy Superintendent Curt Allen bring their perspectives to the news that 23 RCMP officers and lawyers received awards for their work in response to the NS mass shootings of April, 2020, and also that Employment and Social Development Canada released a Workplace Incident Report critical of the RCMP response. Also discussed this week - the arrest of Daniel Martell, step-father of missing children Jack and Lilly Sullivan, for charges of sexual assault. - the mistrial declared in R. v. MacQuarrie, after his defense lawyer was found to have conspired to have a mistrial declared for false reasons.- the Supreme Court of Canada heard agreements about the constitutionality of laws allowing police to conduct "random" traffic stops.- Durham Regional Police officers arrested a lawyer who was working late in the Oshawa Courthouse. Lawyers and groups around the country are reacting in protest to the police actions.

This week has seen an excerpt of Lisa Banfield's book, The First Survivor - Living With Canada's Deadliest Mass Shooter, published by the Nationals Post chain of newspapers. She also did an interview with CTV in advance of the book release on January 20, 2026. We review some of the details provided in the excerpt, and key outstanding discrepancies in this discussion with Chad Jones and Ryan Potter, including her claims about how she escaped, where she spent the night of April 19, 2020, and what she claims to have heard in those hours.

We welcome everyone to 2026 in our first episode of the new year with breaking news of the Nova Scotia mass shootings. Having sifted through a trove of emails among RCMP officers assigned to the Mass Casualty Commission analysis of the shootings, citizen investigator Ryan Potter has found evidence of a key individual having had a 'handler'. Paul, Adam, and Ryan discuss what this might mean, and how it impacts our understanding of the events of the NS mass shootings. In addition to the 'handler' reference, Ryan also discovered a medical examiner report that suggested there was a body found in Portapique which was left unaccounted. Also discussed, the Seymour Hersh documentary on Netflix, more examples of AI misuse in the law, the US arrest of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, and the Supreme Court of Canada hearings in R. v. Cope regarding Indigenous sentencing principles.

This week we take a dive into the new justice legislation proposed by the Federal Government. It is designed to address delays in the criminal courts, and there are elements that should have this effect. Bill C-16 also seeks to criminalize 'coercive control' and makes 'femicide' a crime equal to first degree murder by default. We also welcome back Dave Moore, who describes how he was harassed, surveilled, and set up by his superiors in the RCMP after his work on the Glen Assoun case. Dave details how a restaurant he owned in Hubbards, NS (near Halifax) was burned down by a suspected RCMP confidential informant, and how he figured it all out. Also covered this week - a Mi'kmaq Chief has banned Premier Houston from her reserve for his comments on cannabis dispensaries, the National Police Federation comments on the OPP report on the YVR Four, and Paul reveals his favourite Christmas song.

This week, we welcome Moira Webster to discuss her former husband, Mike Webster, a former clinical psychologist with a focus on policing (and also CFL football player and professional wrestler). She describes how he was smeared by the RCMP after his comments on the Robert Dziekański taser death, and his role in the Gustafsen Lake standoff (the largest ever RCMP operation to that point). Also discussed, are the death of Sylvio Saulnier in Dieppe, NB, Paul's review of the new Netflix documentary The Stringer, and Adam's upcoming talk on legal issues for men.

This week, we have the pleasure of a rare interview with retired RCMP analyst, Dave Moore. Dave discusses his investigation into the murder of Brenda Way, which he discovered was not committed by Glen Assoun, who had been found guilty, but by serial killer Michael McGray. His investigation was quashed, and the evidence he had gathered was destroyed by officers higher up. Dave tells us about the coverup, and his expectations about the upcoming SiRT re-investigation. Also discussed; - Nova Scotia's new death review committee has been very secrative about the information they are releasing about their first two investigations. - Residents of Conception Bay North say they were left to fend for their own after a serial arsonist hit the area, causing almost 200 homes to burn. - Hells Angels hit man Dean Kelsie complains that the parole board gave too much weight to the views of the families of his victims- There will be no golf course built on protected land at the West Mabou Beach, for now