A couple of attempts by the Ontario Opposition to have a select committee of the legislature look at the hiring of Ron Taverner as the next OPP Commissioner have been shot down.
NDP leader Andrea Horwath wants the Integrity Commissioner to take the unusual step of calling a public inquiry, adding it’s needed as “sunshine is the best disinfectant”, and the investigation shouldn’t be done behind closed doors.
Sylvia Jones is the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and says the opposition should trust the work of the Integrity Commissioner.
She adds the Integrity Commissioner has already launched an independent investigation.
“They report to this chamber, not to individual members… so to suggest that they are not in any way independent, and they can’t do the investigation, I think is shameful.”
Jones also wants the opposition to let the process play itself out.
“I want to see the NDP say ‘We respect the independent officer, we respect the integrity commissioner, and we will allow him the time he and his office need to do the investigation and issue the report.”
