McGuinty names Fantino new OPP commissioner
CTV.ca News Staff
Former Toronto police chief Julian Fantino will return to uniform Oct. 30 as the new commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police.
Premier Dalton McGuinty made the announcement Thursday, ending months of speculation.
"Julian Fantino has a long record of public service across Ontario," McGuinty said in a written statement, adding Fantino was selected after a cross-Canada search.
"I wish him well in his new post as he takes over leadership of a very professional force."
Fantino, who was born in Italy in 1942, has also been chief of police in York Region and London, Ont. He began his career in Toronto in 1964 as a beat cop, working his way through the ranks to undercover officer, homicide detective and division commander.
Fantino has been Ontario's Commissioner of Emergency Management since March 2005, another position he was given by McGuinty after his contract as Toronto's police chief was not renewed following the election of Mayor David Miller.
"It's a great honour to be named the province's new OPP Commissioner," Fantino said in the same statement released by the premiers' office.
"I look forward to working with the men and women of the OPP to keep our communities safe and secure."
Fantino was in the eastern United States Thursday performing duties in connection with his current job.
He replaces Gwen Boniface, the first woman to head the 7,000-member OPP. She resigned last summer amid criticism of the force's handling of the aboriginal standoff in Caledonia, which is still not resolved.
She took a job oversees in which she joins a newly established panel that will oversee Ireland's 13,000-member National Police Force. Boniface said her decision was not the result of the Caledonia land claim dispute.
Fantino said his first priority is to become familiar with the tense situation in Caledonia.
"There's a lot of learning to be done, a lot of listening, a lot of briefing, so I can't really predetermine what all would happen in these circumstances," he told CFRB radio.
A rally being organized by a Richmond Hill couple is planned in Caledonia this weekend to protest the ongoing aboriginal occupation of a former housing development.
Some residents, politicians and police have denounced the event, and fear it could trigger more violent clashes.
Fantino has often been named as a possible political candidate, with reports the Conservatives had wanted him to run against Finance Minister Greg Sorbara in next year's provincial election.
Other supporters wanted him to run against Miller for mayor of Toronto this fall.
With a report from CTV's Paul Bliss and files from The Canadian Press
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