Premier Doug Ford speaks during question period, with Finance Minister Vic Fedeli seated to his left and Health Minister Christine Elliott seated to his right, at the legislature on Sept. 12, 2018. (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star)

TORONTO—The Ford government is asking the OPP to investigate the massive leak of government documents to the NDP.

In a memo sent to all public service staff on Monday, the government’s interim cabinet secretary Steven Davidson said the person found responsible for the leak was let go and the provincial police were called in to investigate.

“The employee responsible for this breach is no longer employed in the Ontario Public Service. The Ontario Provincial Police have also been notified,” Davidson said.

At issue are the government documents released by the NDP, which were leaked to the party by someone in the government.

On Tuesday, the OPP confirmed its anti-rackets branch is reviewing the complaint.

[READ MORE: NDP say a leaked draft bill shows the Ford government readying for private health care]

The first confidential document that the opposition released came last Thursday. It was a draft piece of legislation outlining how the government plans to overhaul the administration of Ontario’s health-care system.

That leak prompted an internal investigation that Davidson said led the government to find who it believes leaked the documents.

“It is an unfortunate but opportune time to remind ourselves about the oath we have all taken as public servants,” Davidson said in his memo to civil servants.

“Public servants are hardworking, responsible and dedicated, and trust, professionalism and integrity are at the very core of our work. This includes strict adherence to our oath to protect the confidentiality of all information that comes into our possession unless we are legally authorized or required to release it.”

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath released the remaining government documents related to the health-care overhaul on Monday morning. She refused to answer any questions about how the documents were obtained but said neither she, nor her staff, had been interviewed by police.

Before the memo was released multiple news outlets, including iPolitics, had confirmed through sources that the matter was being referred to police.

Horwath said that calling in the police amounted to “threats” from the premier. So far though Premier Doug Ford has not made public comments about the police investigation.

“Mr. Ford has made some pretty serious threats and frankly I’m worried of the potential affect on whistle blowers, for example, and so I will not be answering any more questions in that regard,” she said.

Despite a request for comment, Horwath’s office hasn’t clarified her statements.

Health Minister Christine Elliott took the NDP leader to task for invoking whistle blowers in this case.

“She is doing a serious disservice to legitimate whistle blowers by calling the individual who obtained these documents as such,” Elliott said. “This person did not uncover scandal or mismanagement. They uncovered draft public service documents that Andrea Horwath is now using for her own political and fundraising means.”

Liberals say this case proves Taverner can’t be OPP commissioner

In a press release, Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter said this case proves Ford’s plan to appoint his family friend Ron Taverner to be the next OPP commissioner can’t go ahead.

“This is exhibit A of why Ron Taverner cannot be OPP commissioner,” she said.

“Doug Ford is asking the OPP to investigate a leak and alleging the NDP published stolen documents. In these situations the public must have confidence the OPP will act appropriately. That is impossible if the OPP commissioner is known to be a close friend of the premier.”

In November, the government announced that Taverner, a veteran of the Toronto Police Service and close friend to the Ford family, would be the force’s next commissioner.

The appointment immediately raised eyebrows, prompting calls for it to be cancelled and questions about it’s legitimacy — even from within the ranks of the OPP.

It was ultimately postponed while the integrity commissioner conducts an investigation into the matter.

“The OPP is not the Premier’s private police force. The public needs to have confidence that if the OPP opens an investigation it’s for the right reasons — not political ones. If Taverner’s appointment goes through it will undermine public confidence in the OPP,” Hunter said in her statement.

Government House Leader Todd Smith tried to downplay the connection, by emphasizing to reporters that the internal response to the leaked documents is being driven by the public service and not the government’s political arm.

“The Ontario public service has its own investigation and they’ll be looking into exactly what happened,” he said.

He added that he has “full faith in the OPP” if they end up investigating the leak.

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