2012-03-04
By Dan Neutel
The G20 Review, an independent body created to study police actions at the during summit protests in Toronto two years ago, has announced it will delay releasing its findings until later in the spring.
It had been hoping to have its final report published by the end of March, but recently received information has caused a delay, the group said Thursday.
“We did estimate that we would be in position sometime in March to have our report completed,” said Ryan Teschner, council to the review. “Given where we’re at right now, and because we’ve received new material, it is difficult for us to make a new prediction.”
The Independent Civilian Review, which began Sept. 23, 2010 by the Toronto Police Services Board, is to determine whether the planning and implementation of police actions during the summit were adequate and effective.
“We’ve been asked by the board to analyze something in the neighbourhood of 50 or so questions,” said Teschner. “We are very pleased with the co-operation we’ve received from all the parties to date. But when new material comes to us we’ve got to consider it and we’ve got to do so effectively.”
After sorting through thousands of documents from the police forces involved and after conducting in-depth interviews with Toronto Police Chief William Blair and other members of the board, the G20 Review will soon begin writing its final report on police actions during the June 25-27, 2010 G20 Summit of world leaders held in Toronto.
Retired judge John W. Morden, who was associate chief justice of Ontario in the 1990s, will write the report that is to contain recommendations for presentation to the Police Services Board.