In correspondence obtained by Village Media's The Trillium, an RCMP investigator mentioned work 'the special prosecutor' will be doing on the case
EDITOR’S NOTE: A version of this article originally appeared on The Trillium, a new Village Media website devoted to covering provincial politics at Queen’s Park.
There is no legal definition for a "special prosecutor" in Ontario, and the RCMP investigator's correspondence leaves what their other specific responsibilities would be in the Greenbelt probe unclear. Called for backup One possibility of the role "the special prosecutor" could be playing in the RCMP's criminal investigation into the Greenbelt land swap is as an independent outside legal adviser to police.
A special prosecutor was appointed as Crown when former attorney general Michael Bryant was criminally charged over the death of a cyclist in September 2009. "That removes you from the possible taint of conflict of interest ... it ... ensures the proper administration of justice and that the proper administration of justice is seen by the public," Hampton said.
"You always need to make sure that there's no apprehension of bias and that the prosecution happens — as is always the case — in the most independent fashion," added Naqvi, who is running for leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party and is currently a federal Liberal MP. "As a matter of policy, the PPSC cannot speak to a matter unless or until charges are laid," a spokesperson for the federal prosecution service said. "We have no information to provide."
The OPP has refused to disclose any more of the specifics it was concerned about, but did rule out connections between the parents of Ryan Amato, the staffer at the centre of the Greenbelt controversy, and OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique. The domestic corruption and political investigations group within the SII unit specializes in investigating allegations of fraud, corruption and illegal lobbying, as well as matters involving elected officials and other politicians.
Since unveiling its plan to remove 7,400 acres of land in 15 different sites on Nov. 4, 2022, Ford and the Progressive Conservatives have consistently been dogged by the issue.
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