Last Wednesday evening, Chief Vern White more than held his own in a televised panel discussion, as he often does, on Rogers TV's current affairs show, Talk Ottawa.
The subject was whether Ottawa should have a supervised injection site along the lines of Vancouver's Insite, the source of much public policy angst, as well as a Supreme Court challenge that last fall resulted in a unanimous decision allowing the controversial injection clinic to remain open, a blow to the federal Conservatives who wanted the program shut down.
On the television show - for which, I mention in the interests of full disclosure, I was the substitute host that night - the Ottawa police chief argued against establishing a supervised injection site. His views were hardly a surprise. White hasn't minced words about his position on supervised injection sites over the past seven years.
But even as he was making the case as the chief of Ottawa Police Services, White already knew that he was in line for a Senate appointment, which would be publicly announced two days later. Looking back, one may well question whether at that moment White was speaking as a public official or as a Conservative senator. In fact, one could take the argument further, that White's surprise appointment to the Senate, home to many a political crony, could retroactively colour his past viewpoints with a political hue undesirable in an independent public figure like a police chief.
White adamantly refuses this characterization, stating in an interview that he has been apolitical during his 30-year career, has never belonged to a political party or supported a political candidate.
His viewpoints are largely in line with Conservative policies, but not because he's a party insider. "My thinking is my thinking," he says.
Lucky for the Conservatives, because White is an ideal catch for them, especially as the party seems bent on pinning its future on an enforcement-based crime strategy.
Not sullied by being a failed candidate, or a Tory bagman, White brings intelligence - he's on the verge of earning a doctorate - three decades of policing experience, and a persuasive charm. He's one of the most popular public figures in Ottawa.
But what's in it for White?
He's taking a $100,000 cut in pay, and at 52, isn't ready to slide into retirement. Of course, he's also taking a 90-per-cent cut in workload, which may make the skinnier paycheque easier to swallow.
White bristles at this description, too, adding that he plans to be busy. He warns that his reason for accepting the job may sound corny, but he wants "to work for the greater good" on national issues, such as aboriginal concerns and unemployment.
There may be another reason: a Senate appointment is the easiest way into politics that exists in this country. And anyone who's seen White in action knows he's a consummate politician, one of the smoothest in the city. Indeed, in the halls of power, talk of him being a potential candidate is persistent. And yet, there have been three elections in less than 18 months in this city.
The subject was whether Ottawa should have a supervised injection site along the lines of Vancouver's Insite, the source of much public policy angst, as well as a Supreme Court challenge that last fall resulted in a unanimous decision allowing the controversial injection clinic to remain open, a blow to the federal Conservatives who wanted the program shut down.
On the television show - for which, I mention in the interests of full disclosure, I was the substitute host that night - the Ottawa police chief argued against establishing a supervised injection site. His views were hardly a surprise. White hasn't minced words about his position on supervised injection sites over the past seven years.
But even as he was making the case as the chief of Ottawa Police Services, White already knew that he was in line for a Senate appointment, which would be publicly announced two days later. Looking back, one may well question whether at that moment White was speaking as a public official or as a Conservative senator. In fact, one could take the argument further, that White's surprise appointment to the Senate, home to many a political crony, could retroactively colour his past viewpoints with a political hue undesirable in an independent public figure like a police chief.
White adamantly refuses this characterization, stating in an interview that he has been apolitical during his 30-year career, has never belonged to a political party or supported a political candidate.
His viewpoints are largely in line with Conservative policies, but not because he's a party insider. "My thinking is my thinking," he says.
Lucky for the Conservatives, because White is an ideal catch for them, especially as the party seems bent on pinning its future on an enforcement-based crime strategy.
Not sullied by being a failed candidate, or a Tory bagman, White brings intelligence - he's on the verge of earning a doctorate - three decades of policing experience, and a persuasive charm. He's one of the most popular public figures in Ottawa.
But what's in it for White?
He's taking a $100,000 cut in pay, and at 52, isn't ready to slide into retirement. Of course, he's also taking a 90-per-cent cut in workload, which may make the skinnier paycheque easier to swallow.
White bristles at this description, too, adding that he plans to be busy. He warns that his reason for accepting the job may sound corny, but he wants "to work for the greater good" on national issues, such as aboriginal concerns and unemployment.
There may be another reason: a Senate appointment is the easiest way into politics that exists in this country. And anyone who's seen White in action knows he's a consummate politician, one of the smoothest in the city. Indeed, in the halls of power, talk of him being a potential candidate is persistent. And yet, there have been three elections in less than 18 months in this city.
If White wanted to be in politics, there were plenty of opportunities to run.
In fact, White admits that both the Conservatives and the Liberals approached him about running in the last provincial and federal campaigns. He says he didn't have a "burning desire" to stand for election at the time. Instead of declaring his candidacy, last summer White signed a three-year extension of his contract that should have seen him remain Ottawa's police chief until 2015. The move was seen as, among other things, a way to end the speculation that White was in vying for the top job in the RCMP, where he spent much of his career, rising to the level of assistant commissioner.
"I know that I've left people hanging," he says of breaking his contract with the city, his biggest - perhaps only - regret in this entire affair.
He could have honoured his city contract, declining the Senate appointment, but the lure of the red chamber was too great, he says.
White seems genuinely shocked that a small-town boy of modest means could ever become a senator. Perhaps it's the speed of the incident that has him reeling - White says he was first contacted about the appointment just after Christmas while he was on holidays. He's staying on as chief of police until the end of February.
What happens after that depends on how the Senate is reformed; White is fully in favour of the Conservative policies on this and believes in "democratic representation" in the upper chamber. A future run in an actual election isn't out of the question either, not by a long shot.
What is certain is that White isn't just trading in a fatter paycheque for a cushier job - he's giving up real influence in this city. His views on hot-button issues will still be interesting, and he'll be welcome around the discussion tables of this city's media outlets.
But White's views won't carry the weight they once did in this city, because he's officially traded in his role as independent authority figure to become a company man. Any speculation can be put to rest: Chief White is officially a Conservative now.
In fact, White admits that both the Conservatives and the Liberals approached him about running in the last provincial and federal campaigns. He says he didn't have a "burning desire" to stand for election at the time. Instead of declaring his candidacy, last summer White signed a three-year extension of his contract that should have seen him remain Ottawa's police chief until 2015. The move was seen as, among other things, a way to end the speculation that White was in vying for the top job in the RCMP, where he spent much of his career, rising to the level of assistant commissioner.
"I know that I've left people hanging," he says of breaking his contract with the city, his biggest - perhaps only - regret in this entire affair.
He could have honoured his city contract, declining the Senate appointment, but the lure of the red chamber was too great, he says.
White seems genuinely shocked that a small-town boy of modest means could ever become a senator. Perhaps it's the speed of the incident that has him reeling - White says he was first contacted about the appointment just after Christmas while he was on holidays. He's staying on as chief of police until the end of February.
What happens after that depends on how the Senate is reformed; White is fully in favour of the Conservative policies on this and believes in "democratic representation" in the upper chamber. A future run in an actual election isn't out of the question either, not by a long shot.
What is certain is that White isn't just trading in a fatter paycheque for a cushier job - he's giving up real influence in this city. His views on hot-button issues will still be interesting, and he'll be welcome around the discussion tables of this city's media outlets.
But White's views won't carry the weight they once did in this city, because he's officially traded in his role as independent authority figure to become a company man. Any speculation can be put to rest: Chief White is officially a Conservative now.
Original Article
Source: Ottawa Citizen
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