The integrity commissioner has yet to interview Premier Doug Ford in the ongoing probe into the Progressive Conservative government’s hiring of a Ford family friend as OPP chief, sources told the Star.J. David Wake, the legislature’s ethics watchdog, is investigating whether there was political interference in the controversial appointment of Toronto police Supt. Ron Taverner to head the provincial force.While Ford has denied any involvement in the posting, his government’s Nov. 29 naming of Taverner, 72, to be Ontario Provincial Police commissioner has sparked concerns about the independence and credibility of the OPP in the future.“Nobody in the premier’s office — or the premier himself — has been interviewed by the integrity commissioner,” confided a senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal matters.“But we sincerely want to get this underway and wrapped up as quickly as possible,” the insider said Thursday, emphasizing Ford and Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones have always said they would co-operate with the review.Wake, whose office has declined to comment on the status of the probe other than to confirm it is an active investigation, is looking into the Taverner affair in response to a complaint by New Democrat MPP Kevin Yarde (Brampton North) under the Members’ Integrity Act.Yarde asked the integrity commissioner to intervene over concern Ford may have violated the act when “his long-time family friend and ally” was named head of the OPP.That probe is happening at the same time as an OPP deputy commissioner is headed to court to force the ombudsman to step in.Brad Blair, who was interim OPP commissioner until going public with complaints about the Taverner hiring, wants ombudsman Paul Dubé to review the OPP commissioner hiring process.Blair’s Divisional Court case kicks off Monday in Toronto.Dubé has refused ...
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