March 7th, 2019

Taverner’s surprise withdrawal from OPP job makes public inquiry more important than ever

QUEEN’S PARK — NDP Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath released the following statement after Supt. Ron Taverner abandoned his controversial appointment as the next commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP):

“Ontario families need to have unshakable confidence that their provincial police force, and its most powerful officer, are above reproach and free from all political interference. Today, Supt. Ron Taverner did what Doug Ford has continuously refused to do, and preserved the OPP’s integrity with his withdrawal.

This mysterious and abrupt about-face makes a full public inquiry into Doug Ford’s meddling in the OPP all the more critical. A great deal of Ford’s secret interference with the police force has been revealed by Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair, but the extent of Ford’s political interference is still to be determined.

The next commissioner of the OPP must be independent of the premier’s office, as all police forces must be free from political interference, real or perceived.”