Premier Doug Ford speaks in the legislature, in Toronto, on March 7, 2019. Steve Russell/Toronto Star

TORONTO—Premier Doug Ford appears to be standing by comments that led to a $5-million libel suit against him from a fired deputy OPP commissioner.

On March 15, former OPP deputy commissioner Brad Blair launched the lawsuit, alleging Ford was “malicious” and “grossly negligent” when he claimed numerous times that Blair broke the Police Services Act.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

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Ford was asked at a Monday press conference if he regrets making those statements. In response, he said: “Usually when I say something, I usually stick with it.”

Asked what information or proof he had to justify the comments, Ford said, “It’s in front of the courts and I can’t comment right now.”

Last December, Blair filed a complaint with the province’s ombudsman requesting an investigation into the hiring process for the OPP commissioner that led to Ford friend Ron Taverner’s appointment. Blair was the interim head of the force at that time and had been overlooked for the permanent gig.

Ombudsman Paul Dubé rejected the request, and Blair is now locked in a legal battle with Dubé as he tries to force the ombudsman to investigate his allegations of an unfair process and possible political interference in the force.

As that was playing out in December and January, the premier made repeated comments about Blair that court documents say caused “damage to his character and reputation, personally and professionally.”

Blair was fired from the police force by Community Safety Deputy Minister Mario Di Tommaso on March 4. His lawyers say he is considering a wrongful dismissal lawsuit.

On March 6, Taverner withdrew from the appointment and, on March 11, the government announced Thomas Carrique had been appointed to the top job.

The next week the province’s integrity commissioner found the process used to hire Taverner was flawed.

[READ MORE: Ford cleared in ethics probe but commissioner flags flawed process]

The court documents say Ford “intentionally, deliberately and maliciously” made the comments “without due regard for the consequences of his conduct.”

The documents detail a series of times when Ford told journalists that Blair broke the law.

“I could give you a list of all the Police Act that was broken throughout that whole letter, but none of you want to report on that,” Ford told reporters at a press conference in December in reference to Blair’s letter to the ombudsman.

And according to the documents, Ford told CP24 in January: “It’s unfortunate that one person has sour grapes, and it is very disappointing, actually, and reacting the way he’s been reacting and breaking the Police Act numerous times. Someone needs to hold him accountable.”

The documents say Blair sought clarification on whether a complaint had been filed against him, or an investigation started, under the Police Services Act, and he never received a response.

The documents also note that Ford has never retracted the comments despite being served with a notice of action on Jan. 23.

Ford has 20 days to respond to the defamation claim.

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