OPP SAFETY AND GEAR

Lead Question 1:

Minister. In today’s Toronto Star there is an alarming report that calls into question the safety of OPP officers policing the Caledonia land occupation.

The Ontario Provincial Police Association says that public image is being placed ahead of officer safety and law and order.

Minister, can you tell us if officer safety is being put at risk at Caledonia and if yes, what are you going to do about it?

First Supplementary:

Minister, the Star report indicates that so far – 100 days into the longest occupation in Canadian history – 13 officers have been injured. It also states that officers are not being allowed to wear appropriate safety gear – for optical reasons!!

These are sons and daughters, husbands and wives, moms and dads, who don’t know if they’ll be coming home unharmed because they are not in proper uniform.

Minister, on of your responsibilities as top cop is to stand up for frontline officer safety. Earlier this week you blamed OPP officers for making what you described as a wrong turn that resulted in them being assaulted and run off the occupied property. When are you going to put political imagery aside, do your job standing up for officer safety and insist that frontline officers at Caledonia be equipped with the appropriate safety gear?

Final Supplementary:

Minister. We are no beginning to see public concern among police officers forced to work in the politically correct world of Dalton McGuinty – political optics trump frontline officer safety. Don’t do or wear anything that could potentially damage the image of this Liberal government.

Minister, knowing you as I do, I’m sure you are personally concerned about the safety situation – 13 officers injured to date. I ask you to override the political manipulators in the Premier’s office and insist that officers at Caledonia can wear the appropriate safety equipment. These officers and their families deserve to know that their safety, not optics, is your governments first priority.