Democracy group disputes ethics probe clearing Ford
Watchdog attacks report by integrity official into Taverner OPP hiring
The ethics report that cleared Doug Ford of breaching integrity laws in the hiring of Ron Taverner as Ontario Provincial Police commissioner is “negligently bad” because it ignores the fact that the premier earlier offered his friend another patronage job, charges Democracy Watch.
In a scorching criticism of integrity commissioner J. David Wake’s 101-page probe of the Taverner appointment, the Ottawa-based non-partisan government accountability organization said the watchdog’s probe fell short.
“Wake’s ruling on the Ford government’s attempted appointment of Ford’s close friend Ron Taverner as OPP commissioner is one of the most negligently bad reports by a Canadian ethics commissioner that I have seen in the past 25 years,” Duff Conacher, cofounder of Democracy Watch and an adjunct professor of law and politics at the University of Ottawa, said Friday.
“Ford offered another government job to Taverner, and Ford’s senior staff person tried to influence the OPP appointment process to favour Taverner and Ford is responsible for his staff’s actions, and Ford also participated in the cabinet meeting that approved Taverner’s appointment,” Conacher said.
“Those are all clear violations of the provincial ethics law that commissioner Wake negligently ignored. For these reasons, Democracy Watch will consult with lawyers concerning filing a court challenge of commissioner’s Wake’s ruling,” he said. On Wednesday, Wake found Ford “did not breach” the law himself, though the independent ethics watchdog revealed a “flawed” and “troubling” hiring process guided by the premier’s office to ensure the preferred candidate was hired.
After public outcry — and legal action by former deputy OPP commissioner Brad Blair, who was fired after exposing the Tories’ attempt to get a police van with $50,000 of customized upgrades for Ford’s use — Taverner, 72, withdrew his name from consideration for the post on March 6.
York Regional Police deputy Chief Thomas Carrique, 51, was appointed the new commissioner last week.
Democracy Watch expressed concern that Wake’s report did not censure Ford for personally promising to hire Taverner as the $270,000-a-year president of community outreach at the Ontario Cannabis Store, the government’s new recreational marijuana retailer.
That appointment did not go ahead after Taverner said he was “getting cold feet” about leaving policing after 51 years on the beat.
As a result, the OPP commissioner’s position was seen as a consolation prize.
“Premier Ford tried to hand a government job to his friend Ron Taverner, which clearly would be improper and also would further Mr. Taverner’s private interests,” said Democracy Watch, noting that is a violation of the Members’ Integrity Act.
As well, Wake’s report found Ford’s chief of staff, Dean French, repeatedly intervened in the hiring of Taverner to tilt things in his favour.
“Under the fundamental principle of ministerial responsibility, Premier Ford is responsible and accountable for the actions of his staff, and therefore these actions violated ... the act,” the advocacy group said.
“Sections 2 and 4 of the provincial Members’ Integrity Act prohibit provincial politicians from participating in or trying to influence any decision that could further their own interests or improperly further another person’s interests.”
Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Ford backed French, praising him as “instrumental on helping us change the province and create growth and prosperity.”
“I have one of the greatest chiefs of staff anyone could ever ask for. I have all the confidence in the world in my chief of staff,” the premier said.
Wake’s office, meanwhile, said it had no comment on Democracy Watch’s criticism.
For his part, Blair, a runner-up to Taverner in the job search, is now considering a wrongful dismissal suit against the province.
His court battle to force the Ontario ombudsman to investigate the Taverner hiring led to the disclosure that the premier’s office tried to get a customized OPP van with a powered reclining leather sofa, 32inch TV with Blu-ray DVD player, and a mini-fridge for Ford’s use.
In the wake of that suit, the 32-year veteran, who was briefly interim commissioner of the OPP, was fired by the Tory government.