A defensive Premier Doug Ford insists he had “zero influence” in the Progressive Conservative government’s controversial appointment of his close friend to head the Ontario Provincial Police.But Ford admitted Tuesday he did not recuse himself from cabinet when Toronto police Supt. Ron Taverner, 72, was approved as OPP commissioner.“Recuse myself from what? Know something? I go back to the three-person panel (that selected Taverner). I had zero influence and no matter who it was I would have accepted,” the premier said.“I told them very clearly, I don’t want anything to do with this (hiring) whatsoever,” he said, referring to a panel that included Steve Orsini, head of the Ontario public service, and newly appointed deputy minister Mario Di Tommaso, Taverner’s former boss at Toronto police.Ford’s comment came after iPolitics revealed earlier Tuesday that the government quietly modified the job posting on Oct. 22.That helped Taverner meet the criteria as the superintendent was two ranks below the initial threshold to qualify for the position.The original description on the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police website required all applicants to hold, at minimum, the rank of deputy chief or assistant commissioner, iPolitics found.NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, interim Liberal leader John Fraser, and Democracy Watch have asked integrity commissioner David Wake to probe any potential conflict of interest in the appointment.“The integrity commissioner (should) review the process that has taken place here. People deserve to know exactly what the premier’s role is,” said Horwath.“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and it really looks like this process was put together to favour Mr. Taverner and I think that’s inappropriate. Folks in Ontario expect better from their premier,” she said.Fraser said “it’s important that (Ford) address the appearance of a con ...
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