Ex-T.O. chief to be named commish: Sources

12 October 2006

Ottawa Sun

By CP

TORONTO -- Former Toronto police chief Julian Fantino will become the new commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, replacing Gwen Boniface, government sources said last night.

Premier Dalton McGuinty will announce Fantino's appointment as the new head of the force before the end of this week, the sources said.

Fantino has been Ontario's Commissioner of Emergency Management since March 2005, a position he was given by McGuinty after his term as Toronto police chief was not renewed following the election of Mayor David Miller.

The provincial sources said a professional recruiting firm experienced in dealing with police executives conducted a Canada-wide search, and "this appointment follows that recommendation."

The premier has concluded "Fantino was the best person for the job," said one government source.

Fantino was chief of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Service from 2000-05. Prior to that he was chief of the London, Ont., and York Regional police forces.

Boniface's recent resignation was blamed by her critics on the provincial police handling of the aboriginal standoff in Caledonia, which is still going on, but the government said she resigned to join a newly established three-person panel that will provide oversight of Ireland's national police force