Mr Garfield Dunlop (Simcoe North): My question today is for the Attorney General. Minister, this morning you made an announcement in the media studio. From this announcement, we know that you're reviewing the police complaints system. What we really don't know, Minister, is exactly why you've ordered this review, exactly how it will be conducted and actually who requested you to do the review. Did you make this announcement this morning to take attention away from Dalton McGuinty and his plan to slam the door on the budget debate with time allocation?

Hon Michael Bryant (Attorney General, minister responsible for native affairs, minister responsible for democratic renewal): We did provide an update to a process that's been underway for some time. We have been saying for years now that it is important for police to receive the respect and confidence from the public that they deserve. We believe we need to have a civilian oversight system that is independent and transparent.

We have consulted with everybody imaginable so far, and asked for more advice in terms of who else we should be meeting with. Now begins the consultation, facilitation, analysis and decision-making part of this process. I have asked the former Chief Justice of the Superior Court, the Honourable Patrick LeSage, to do this, and he has agreed. It is an opportunity for somebody who is unquestionably and irrevocably neutral to put his mind to this issue. I know that he has the respect of many Ontarians, and we look forward to getting his advice.

Mr Dunlop: Thank you, Minister. The announcement this morning was hastily thrown together and you didn't identify any specific criteria that the Honourable Patrick LeSage is expected to follow in his review, although you have mentioned a couple now. In fact, based on the press conference, you were asking him to go into select communities for his review without identifying those communities, instead of a more open and inclusive review process. Is this exercise just another way for your government to show its true colours, its lack of confidence in the men and women who put their lives on the line every day: Ontario's police officers?

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Hon Mr Bryant: I have enormous confidence in the Honourable Patrick LeSage and that he will conduct himself and these consultations in a way that everybody has confidence in. I really believe that he is going to do this in a way that everybody can have confidence in, and that there will be a wide mixture of different types of consultations. He has said that he will travel the province. He will make sure that we look not just at the urban context, but that we look at what the contexts are outside of Toronto, Ottawa, London etc.

I have enormous confidence in Patrick LeSage. And you're right. I haven't said to former Chief Justice LeSage, "Here are the limitations on your review." I've said, "Please consult and please advise on this very important issue so that we can ensure that the public has confidence in a civilian oversight system, and that the police have the respect and confidence that they deserve."