A former high-ranking Ontario Provincial Police officer is suing Premier Doug Ford for defamation. Brad Blair, who was fired earlier this month, filed the $5-million lawsuit at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on March 15 over comments by the premier that Blair had violated the Police Services Act. Ford's comments followed Blair asking the courts to force the provincial ombudsman to investigate the appointment of Ron Taverner, a longtime friend of the premier as OPP commissioner, raising concerns about political interference. Blair's lawsuit alleges Ford's comments and the attention they received subjected Blair to "embarrassment, scandal, ridicule, and contempt," and were meant to intimidate him. Last month, Blair threatened to sue the premier if he did not apologize and retract his comments.

Source: CBC News March 27, 2019 20:54 UTC