

Paul Johnston, CP24.com





Toronto’s top cop could announce his new career path Sunday, according to media reports.

Outgoing police Chief Bill Blair is expected to announce that he will run for the Liberal nomination in the federal riding of Scarborough Southwest, according to a report Saturday in the Birch Cliff News.

The article cites two independent, unnamed sources for confirmation.

In a tweet sent out shortly before 11 p.m., the Toronto Star also reported that Blair would be making the move into politics with the Liberals in the riding.

The tweet did not cite a source for the information.

Speaking with CP24 Saturday night, Blair said his focus was fixed on fulfilling his current obligations.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to speak of the future while I still have the responsibilities of the chief of police, and until midnight tonight, that’s my job,” he said.

“When I finish that assignment, I’ll move on. I’ve said many times I want to seek new opportunities to serve, and I’ll be talking about that at the right time, but tonight, I still have a job to do.”

A Forum Research poll conducted in February found that Blair would defeat NDP incumbent Dan Harris should he decide to run during the next federal election.

The poll of 557 eligible voters in the riding found that 39 per cent of respondents would vote for Blair compared to 29 per cent for Harris and 27 per cent for a Conservative candidate.

Support for Blair was highest among women (42 per cent), those between the ages of 35 to 44 (43 per cent) and those making less than $20,000 a year (45 per cent).

The poll is considered accurate to within four percentage points, 19 times out of 20.