OPP Attack Ads Against Tim Hudak A Violation Of Police Services Act?

I'm not sure, but it sure looks that way. Today something unprecedented happened. A police force, in this case the OPP, began to air political attack ads aimed at PC leader Tim Hudak. There a few things troubling about this story. The first point being the OPP CAO is allegedly a person by the name of Karl Walsh. That would most likely be the same Karl Walsh that ran as a Liberal candidate in the 2011 election?



And the second, even more troubling aspect is the OPP may actually be breaking the POLICE SERVICES ACT. Most notably this section:

"Authorized activities

13.  If authorized to do so by the police services board or chief of police, a municipal police officer may, on behalf of the police force,

(a) express views on any issue, as long as the police officer does not, during an election campaign, express views supporting or opposing,

(i) a candidate in the election or a political party that has nominated a candidate in the election, or

(ii) a position taken by a candidate in the election or by a political party that has nominated a candidate in the election; and

(b) subject to clause (a), attend and participate in a public meeting. O. Reg. 268/10, s. 13.

       It also has the affect of putting the OPP in a conflict-of-interest, or at least the appearance of, given the fact the OPP are currently involved in two separate criminal investigations having some connection to the Liberal Party of Kathleen Wynne.

UPDATE: It appears the OPP have pulled the video, which featured a uniformed officer and OPP cruiser, most likely a result of a violation of the rules posted above.

email: paulsblues45@hotmail.com

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