Premier Doug Ford’s chief of staff has been interviewed by the ethics watchdog probing allegations of political interference in the appointment of Toronto police Supt. Ron Taverner as OPP commissioner.Progressive Conservative sources told the Star that integrity commissioner J. David Wake recently questioned Dean French for more than two hours about his role in the Ontario Provincial Police hiring.The meeting is significant because documents filed with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice suggest French was actively involved in the search for a new commissioner.The government has insisted that Taverner, a 72-year-old Ford friend, was selected by an “independent” hiring committee that had nothing to do with the premier.Asked about the questioning of French, the premier’s office said Tuesday they are co-operating with Wake’s investigation.“We look forward to this process coming to a close as soon as possible,” the office said in a statement.While Ford has not yet met with the integrity commissioner, Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones has.Documents filed by a lawyer for OPP Deputy Commissioner Brad Blair, who was passed over for the force’s top job, show French and then secretary of cabinet Steve Orsini, the head of the public service, and deputy minister Mario Di Tommaso, Taverner’s former boss at Toronto police, did the job interviews.A Nov. 15 email to Blair from Odgers Berndtson, the executive search firm, confirmed that Ford’s chief of staff was on the interview panel.“This time around you’ll be meeting with Steve Orsini, Dean French and Mario Di Tommaso,” Odgers Berndtson project manager Sue Mahon wrote to the OPP deputy commissioner.That missive is part of a trove of documents filed by lawyer Julian Falconer in his push to have Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé probe the Taverner appointment.Dubé has said it is beyond his jurisdiction. Wake’s separate inquiry was tri ...
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