Blair asked the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario to investigate “potential political interference” in Taverner’s appointment. Ombudsman Paul Dubé this past week turned down Blair’s request, saying it was outside his jurisdiction. Blair is taking the matter to court to decide whether or not that is the case.
In a statement to OPP members Saturday, Blair said he understands the “preference for an alternative interim commissioner and will co-operate in every respect.”
Blair said he will resume his role of deputy commissioner of traffic safety and operational support command and remains “devoted to ensuring that the well-earned reputation” of the OPP “remains untarnished.”
“I have been humbled by the honour of leading the women and men of the OPP and I do not regret a single step I have had to take,” said Blair.
The number of voices questioning the hiring process, calling for a review or putting a pause on Taverner’s appointment had been growing since it was announced Nov. 29, and included former OPP commissioner Chris Lewis and former RCMP commissioner Bob Paulson.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath had also written a letter to Taverner, urging him to “do the right thing” and “delay your installation and assuming command of the OPP until a full investigation …has been completed,” Horwath wrote.
At Queen’s Park Saturday, Deputy NDP Leader Sara Singh said Taverner’s move to postpone his controversial appointment is welcome but raises further questions about how a close friend of the premier was given the plum policing job after the qualification level was mysteriously lowered, allowing him apply.
“We are very relieved Mr. Taverner will not be appointed Monday and sworn in,” Singh told reporters.
“However we are still very concerned. Where there is smoke, there is fire. There are a lot of unanswered questions here.”
The New Democrats are calling for an “emergency select committee” of MPPs to investigate the hiring — with the power to compel witnesses in public sessions — in addition to the integrity commissioner’s probe.
“We need to have answers,” said Singh.
At this point, it’s unclear whether Taverner himself made the decision to ask his OPP swearing-in be postponed or whether he was prompted by the premier’s office, Singh added.
“That’s why the premier’s office needs to come forward and provide some clarity…We need to understand how this was allowed to happen, how rules were changed.”
Established in 1988, the Office of the Integrity Commissioner “serves the public interest by encouraging and supporting high ethical standards that strengthen trust and confidence in the Ontario government,” states its website.
The office has a number of mandates, one of which falls under the Members’ Integrity Act. The “primary objective is to help prevent ethics violations before they occur,” and the office offers confidential advice to members of provincial parliament around 300 times each year, according to its website.
If a member suspects another member of crossing an ethical line, in contravention of the act, the member can ask the integrity commissioner through what is known as a “Section 30” complaint to look into the matter, and offer an “opinion.” An affidavit must be filed by the complainant to start the process.
The process involves a review to see if the complaint is within the jurisdiction of the office, followed by a decision on whether an inquiry will be conducted, and notifying the affected member of that decision. If the inquiry is on, the office then asks for written responses to the affidavit.
Taverner’s decision to postpone his investiture comes as the Progressive Conservatives have recalled the house Monday.
The Tories are to introduce back-to-work legislation to end a strike by the Power Workers’ Union, which threatens to shut down Ontario Power Generation’s nuclear reactors that provide almost half of the province’s electricity supply.
But resuming sitting in the house means the government will face the opposition in the daily question period.
With the first question period set for Tuesday morning, the Tories were bracing for difficult inquiries from the New Democrats, Liberals, and Greens over Taverner’s appointment.
All the opposition parties have denounced the fact that a close friend of the premier is being named to run the provincial police even though he lacked the professional qualifications in the initial job posting. That posting, which was later amended, enabled Taverner, a superintendent, to apply for the post, which comes with a raise of almost $100,000 over his $178,000 Toronto police salary.
Jim Rankin is a reporter based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @Jleerankin
Robert Benzie is the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie