Toronto Police Service hires former Harper aide
The Toronto Police Service has hired a key aide to former prime minister Stephen Harper to provide strategic communication advice to the force as it undergoes the largest overhaul in its history.
Sandra Buckler, also an ex-chief of staff in several federal government departments, will help guide Chief Mark Saunders and others tasked with implementing the recommendations of the so-called Transformational Task Force.
According to her resumé, she has an extensive public-relations background in the private sector. In 2015, she “initiated and drove cost reduction efforts” as vicepresident of corporate affairs at Canadian Tire, according to her resume.
The CV describes Buckler as a “committed team member able to direct and manage resources and focus efforts for the successful implementation of corporate affairs strategies in complex, multi-issue environments.”
Buckler will be paid $278,000 for 12 months’ work. Her contract could double to $555,300 if extended by a year, according to an extract from the minutes of the November police services board meeting. The money will come out of the publicly funded police budget.
A year ago, the city’s police services board created the task force to modernize the service with “a sustainable and affordable model” after the 2016 budget shot past $1 billion. The Toronto Police Association says it is nothing more than a budget-slashing exercise.
The task force has recommended reducing the budget by $100 million, including $60 million in salaries and benefits savings over three years through a moratorium on hiring and promotions.
The TPA has hired political strategist Don Guy to help fight the thinning of its ranks, projected to drop from 5,235 uniform officers this year to about 4,800 by 2019. The union is currently conducting telephone panels to mobilize public support to fight the plan.
Buckler was a controversial figure in Ottawa. As Harper’s first media spokesperson, she wasted little time in 2006 telling members of the press gallery that it was the photos that mattered.