POLITICAL “OPTICS” JEOPARDIZING POLICE SAFETY– RUNCIMAN

(QUEEN’S PARK) – Ontario Provincial Police Officers policing the Caledonia native occupation dispute are having their safety put at risk for the sake of “political optics” according to Bob Runciman, Ontario PC House Leader.

Runciman, in Question Period today, responded to concerns raised publicly by the Ontario Provincial Police Association, charging that orders compelling officers to not wear helmets, visors, or shields were jeopardizing officer safety and pointed to13 injuries sustained so far in the Caledonia stand-off.

“These officers are sons and daughters, husbands and wives, moms and dads, who don’t know if they’ll be coming home because they are not permitted to use proper equipment,” argued Runciman.

Runciman, a former Solicitor General, called on Community Safety Minister Monte Kwinter to put political imagery aside and stand up for officer safety.

“One of the Minister’s primary responsibilities is to fight for frontline officer safety, and I urge him to override the political manipulators in McGuinty’s office, and insist that officers at Caledonia can wear appropriate equipment,” concluded Runciman