Mr Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): My question today is for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and, once again, it involves one of his comments to the media.

On Friday, in a column by the Toronto Sun's Christina Blizzard entitled "Chief Deserves Better," you said, "There is speculation in the media today about whether Chief Fantino's contract is going to be renewed. That's not my decision. That's the mayor's and the council's decision. They are the ones who hired him. They are the ones who pay him. He is responsible to them."

I'm shocked that you didn't know that the police services board is responsible for the chief's appointment, not the mayor or the council. With these comments, you have offended Toronto police chief Julian Fantino, you have jeopardized his relationship with the Toronto Police Services Board and you have misled the public. In light of the damage you have done --

Interjections.

The Speaker (Hon Alvin Curling): Order. I'd ask you to withdraw that. It is unparliamentary.

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Mr Dunlop: I'll withdraw that he had misinformed the public.

Minister, in light of the damage you have caused, will you stand in the House right now and admit that your comments were ill advised and inaccurate?

Hon Monte Kwinter (Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services): The only person I've offended is that member.

I should tell you that when I was asked the question, the question was that the chief walked out of a meeting at city hall and what was I going to do about it? I said to him at the time, "I have no control over the chief, and when he walks out of a city hall meeting, that's up to the city hall people to discuss, not me, because they're the ones who have responsibility for the chief, for the Toronto Police Services." I would suggest to you, given the incidents that are happening in this community around my ministry, that you would find this the question to ask is really deplorable and really does not even deserve the kind of respect that you should be looking for.

Mr Dunlop: I'm surprised, Minister, that you're taking this question so lightly.

On Friday you received two letters that clearly spell out how your comments were perceived by Julian Fantino and by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. They were signed June 18. I have copies of them here, if you want a copy of them. In the first letter, Jerome Wiley, counsel to Chief Fantino, requests that you "publicly and immediately clarify your comments to reflect the legal status of the chief vis-à-vis the mayor and city council."

In the second letter, William Malpass, executive director of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, asks you "to immediately clarify publicly your views on the role of the police chiefs and to apologize to our member, Chief Julian Fantino, and to police leaders across the province."

Minister, will you make this apology right now in this House?

Hon Mr Kwinter: I would suggest that if the member wants to get a clarification, he should call the chief. He should call Chief Fantino. I have spoken to him. He has no problem whatsoever with what has been said.

If you would only do your research and understand what the role of the police chief is, instead, as I say -- I want to repeat again: There are very serious issues evolving around what is happening in Ontario regarding my ministry. For you to spend your time on that kind of question is beyond you, beyond your caucus, and really is something that you should take a very close look at to see whether or not you're acting responsibly.