Former Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders sets up PCs

Ontario’s progressive conservative party hopes a high-profile law-and-order candidate can help wring a riding away from the Liberals, who have been held by former Prime Minister Kathleen Wynne for nearly 20 years.

Mark Saunders, who made history as Toronto’s first black police chief, is set to run in Don Valley West in the June election.

Saunders retired from the Toronto Police Service two years ago. He was subsequently appointed to advise Premier Doug Ford and Tourism and Culture Secretary Lisa MacLeod on the future of Ontario Place.

“I am honored to have been selected by Doug Ford as the 2022 Ontario PC candidate for Don Valley West,” Saunders said in a written statement.

“Doug and I have worked closely together over the years, and I have always admired his strong leadership and dedication to supporting Ontarians, especially over the past two years.”

Saunders said the election comes at “a critical time in Ontario’s history as we recover from the effects of the pandemic and it is clear that the Ontario PC Party has a strong plan to build a better future for our families and future generations,” whether it’s investing in transit, building highways, strengthening our health care system or supporting workers and reducing costs for ontarians. ”

NDP runs former provincial children’s lawyer Irwin Elman in Don Valley West. The Liberal candidate is Stephanie Bowman, a former bank director who has served on the board of the Bank of Canada.

Saunders follows in the footsteps of Julian Fantino and Bill Blair, who entered federal politics – for the Conservatives and the Liberals respectively – after leading the country’s largest police force.

“There is no one I would rather have on the ballot in Don Valley West than Mark,” Ford said in a statement. “Mark brings an incredible amount of experience serving in the Toronto Police Service for nearly four decades. I’m excited to have him on our team, and I have no doubt he will be an incredible voice in Queen’s Park. ”

Saunders emigrated from England in 1967 and has lived in Toronto for almost 40 years. He is married and has four children.

Wynne won the Don Valley West seat in the 2018 election, ending her term as prime minister. She recently announced that she would not run again.