NDP demands answers on Di Tommaso's role in Taverner hiring

The NDP has asked the Secretary of the Cabinet to clarify why Mario Di Tommaso was not required to recuse himself from the panel responsible for searching for the next commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

Shortly before appointing Ron Taverner to be the next commissioner of the OPP, Doug Ford's government put Taverner's boss, Di Tommaso, on the government payroll as Deputy Minister of Community Safety. That put Di Tommaso — who may also be a personal friend of Taverner and Ford — on the OPP commissioner hiring panel.

Under Sections 62 and 65 of the Public Service of Ontario Act, the secretary of cabinet is the Ethics Executive charged with determining whether a Deputy Minister has a conflict of interest.

Now the NDP is asking the secretary of cabinet, Steve Orsini, why Di Tommaso was not required to recuse himself from the hiring committee.

“One of the key rules for public servants is to avoid preferential treatment, or even something that looks like it could be preferential treatment,” said NDP Community Safety and Corrections critic Kevin Yarde. “When the person conducting the job interview is drinking wine at the country club with one of the candidates, that looks pretty preferential to most people. Why was this allowed to happen?”

Multiple media reports subsequent to the appointment have noted the close relationship between Di Tommaso and Taverner. In fact, Taverner was quoted in the press praising Di Tommaso’s appointment as Deputy Minister, and photos show both having dinner with Doug Ford.