Horwath calls on Taverner to delay accepting appointment

Horwath calls for emergency Select Committee, supports Ombudsman investigation

Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath says the planned Dec. 17 installation of Ron Taverner as commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) must not go ahead amid unprecedented allegations of political interference by Doug Ford.

“I am calling on Superintendent Ron Taverner to step aside and delay assuming command of the OPP until the officers, the leadership of the OPP, and the people of Ontario have confidence that there has been no political interference by Doug Ford in his appointment,” said Horwath.

Horwath is calling for an emergency creation of a Select Committee of the legislature, a committee with equal representation of government and official opposition MPPs and the full power to call witnesses and subpoena any relevant documents. Horwath has also written to the Ombudsman in support of Brad Blair’s request for an investigation.

In a bombshell letter released by current commissioner Brad Blair on Dec. 11, the commissioner detailed interference by Doug Ford’s office in the hiring process, including a description of how Ford’s chief of staff and main political advisor, Dean French, was involved in the selection process.

“The Ford government appears unwilling to do what’s right. But as a person taking on a position that requires the utmost integrity, I expect Taverner must want to do the right thing,” said Horwath. “I agree wholeheartedly with Commissioner Blair that police independence is fundamental to our democracy, and I thank him for his integrity and selfless intervention to protect the people of Ontario.”

Blair’s letter not only describes interference from French in the hiring process, but also points to a blatant lie from Ford. When the job of OPP Commissioner was posted, Taverner didn’t qualify, as his superintendent rank was too low. The rank requirement was removed and the job posting re-released a few days later. Ford said that was done to allow a broader pool of applicants — but Blair says of 27 candidates that applied, 23 were qualified under the original requirements.

Horwath is also calling for an RCMP investigation into Blair’s revelation that Ford’s office demanded the OPP procure for him a “large camper type vehicle,” customized to Ford’s specifications, and hide the cost of that from the public. She is also calling on the Treasury Board to launch an internal investigation.

New Democrats have formally requested that the integrity commissioner investigate Taverner’s appointment after several serious allegations of political interference surfaced in recent weeks.

Taverner is a very close family friend and ally of Doug Ford.