Bill Blair
{{Short description|Canadian politician (born 1954)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honourable
| name = Bill Blair
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|COM|MP|size=100%}}
| image = Bill Blair 2025 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Blair in 2025
| office = Minister of National Defence
| primeminister = Justin Trudeau
Mark Carney
| term_start = July 26, 2023
| term_end =
| predecessor = Anita Anand
| successor =
| office1 = Minister of Emergency Preparedness
| primeminister1 = Justin Trudeau
| term_start1 = October 26, 2021
| term_end1 = July 26, 2023
| predecessor1 = Himself (as Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness)
| successor1 = Harjit Sajjan
| office2 = Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
| term_start2 = November 20, 2019
| term_end2 = October 26, 2021
| predecessor2 = Ralph Goodale
| successor2 = Marco Mendicino (as Minister of Public Safety)
Himself (as Minister of Emergency Preparedness)
| primeminister2 = Justin Trudeau
| office3 = Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
| term_start3 = July 18, 2018
| term_end3 = November 20, 2019
| predecessor3 = Position established
| successor3 = Position abolished
| primeminister3 = Justin Trudeau
| office4 = Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice
| minister4 = Jody Wilson-Raybould
| term_start4 = January 28, 2017
| term_end4 = July 18, 2018
| predecessor4 = Sean Casey
| successor4 = Marco Mendicino
| riding5 = Scarborough Southwest
| parliament5 = Canadian
| term_start5 = October 19, 2015
| term_end5 =
| predecessor5 = Dan Harris
| office6 = Chief of the Toronto Police Service
| predecessor6 = Mike Boyd
| successor6 = Mark Saunders
| term_start6 = April 6, 2005
| term_end6 = April 25, 2015
| birth_name = William Sterling Blair
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1954}}
| birth_place = Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
| nationality = Canadian
| spouse = Susanne Blair
| party = Liberal
| relations =
| children = 2 sons; 1 daughter
| residence = South Hill, Toronto{{cite web|title=Search For Contributions|url=https://www.elections.ca/WPAPPS/WPF/EN/CCS/ContributionReport?returnStatus=1&reportOption=5&queryId=138dc682c9184b8283a0841e542b3d97&sortDirection=asc&sortOrder=0%2C1%2C2&totalRecordFound=118¤t200Page=1&total200Pages=1&reportExists=True&displaySorting=True|publisher=Elections Canada|access-date=2021-06-23}}
| alma_mater = University of Toronto (BA)
| module = {{Infobox police officer
|embed = yes
|embed_title = Police Career
|department = Toronto Police Service
|years = 1975–2015
|rank = 18px Chief of Police
|awards = Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces
Police Exemplary Service Medal
Member of the Order of St. John Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
}}
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
Bill Sterling Blair {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|COM|MP}} (born 1954)[https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=18537 Parliament of Canada – Bill Blair] is a Canadian politician and former police officer who has served as the minister of National Defence since 2023. A member of the Liberal Party, Blair represents Scarborough Southwest in the House of Commons. Blair previously held the portfolios of Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction and minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Before entering politics, Blair worked for four decades with the Toronto Police Service (TPS), serving as the chief of police from 2005 until retiring in 2015.
Biography
Blair was born in 1954 in Scarborough, Ontario. Blair's father had served as a police officer for 39 years. Blair considered pursuing a degree in law or finance, when he initially enrolled at the University of Toronto Scarborough in the mid 1970s. Blair initially studied economics at the University of Toronto. He left to follow his ambition of being a police officer, but returned later and completed a Bachelor of Arts in economics and criminology.{{R|"GlobeAndMail3"}}
Blair is married to Susanne McMaster, and together they have three grown children (2 sons and daughter) and 2 grandchildren.{{cite web |last1=MacCharles |first1=Tonda |title=Bill Blair and the politics of being joint chief {{!}} The Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/amp/news/canada/2017/04/02/bill-blair-and-the-politics-of-being-joint-chief.html |website=The Star |date=2 April 2017}}
Police career
Blair joined the Metropolitan Toronto Police while in university to make money and began taking courses on a part-time basis. Blair walked a beat near Regent Park and later worked as an undercover officer in Toronto's drug squad.
After Blair earned his bachelor's degree in criminology, he advanced his career in the police service in the late 1980s, taking part in drug busts involving the seizure of millions of dollars of cocaine. Chief David Boothby assigned Blair to improve the poor community relations between the officers of 51 Division, which patrolled Blair's old beat near Regent Park. Blair normalized police relations with the community by measures such as sending cops to read to kids in local elementary schools and engaging with local businesses and churches.
In 1999, Blair was considered as a candidate to replace outgoing Chief Boothby, but Mayor Mel Lastman, with the support of Premier Mike Harris, chose to hire Julian Fantino, then head of the York Regional Police. After reorganization of the senior ranks after Fantino's ascension as police chief, Blair became head of detective operations.
= Chief of the Toronto Police Service =
File:Bill Blair 2015 (cropped).jpg
Blair was selected in a 4–2 vote of the Toronto Police Services Board in early April 2005, and formally appointed Chief of the Toronto Police Service on April 26, 2005. He succeeded Mike Boyd, who had served as interim chief after the expiry of Julian Fantino's contract. Prior to his appointment as chief, Blair worked for approximately 30 years as a Toronto police officer, with assignments involving drug enforcement, organized crime and major criminal investigations. Blair served as president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.
In the spring of 2009, Tamil Canadians in Toronto upset by civilian deaths in the Sri Lankan Civil War, which included an overnight artillery bombardment that killed 378 civilians and wounded 1,100, allegedly perpetrated by the Sri Lankan military, staged a series of protests in Toronto, including shutting down the northbound and southbound lanes of University Avenue for four days while protesting in front of the US Consulate,{{cite news|last=CTV Toronto|date=30 April 2009|title=Police chief says Tamil protest moved 'peacefully'|work=CTV News|publisher=Bell Media|url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/police-chief-says-tamil-protest-moved-peacefully-1.394506|access-date=29 July 2018}} and illegally blocking traffic on the Gardiner Expressway. Blair and the police faced pressure to crack down on the demonstrations, arrest and deporting the protesters. Instead, Blair used his experience in community policing to ensure that minimal force was used, spoke respectfully of the protesters' rights to expression, and negotiated the peaceful resolution of the events. The Canadian Tamil Congress would later award Blair an inaugural "Leaders for Change Award" for his leadership during the protests.
During demonstrations against the G20 Toronto Summit nearly 1,000 arrests were made, making it the largest mass arrest in Canadian history.{{cite news|title=Toronto police were overwhelmed at G20, review reveals|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/toronto-police-were-overwhelmed-at-g20-review-reveals/article2073215/|access-date=24 June 2011|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=23 June 2011|first=Adrian|last=Morrow| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110624112511/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/toronto-police-were-overwhelmed-at-g20-review-reveals/article2073215/| archive-date= 24 June 2011 | url-status= live}} In the aftermath of the protests, the Toronto Police Service and the Integrated Security Unit (ISU) for the summit were heavily criticized for brutality during the arrests. Protests called for Blair to resign.{{cite web |author= Bugajski, Tomasz|title=Peaceful protesters demand resignation of Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair |url=http://www.blogto.com/city/2010/06/peaceful_protesters_demand_resignation_of_toronto_police_chief_bill_blair/ |date=June 29, 2010 |publisher=FreshDaily |work=BlogTO}} In a December 2010 interview, Blair indicated that he would not resign, despite growing criticism of his leadership during and after the summit.
A class action lawsuit was begun against TPS on behalf of all of those who were arrested in spite of the TPS's several attempts to stop proceedings. As of November 10, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that it will not hear the Toronto Police Services Board's appeal, and the suit was able to proceed to trial. On August 17, 2020, the lawsuit had resulted in a $16.5 million settlement. Those arrested were each awarded dollar amounts ranging from $5,000 to $24,700.{{Cite news|date=August 17, 2020|title=$16.5M settlement in class-action lawsuit over mass arrests at 2010 G20 summit|work=Global News|publisher=The Canadian Press|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7281119/lawsuit-2010-g20-summit-toronto-settled/|access-date=February 24, 2021}}
Responding to questions about a controversial regulation enacted by the Cabinet of Ontario to increase police powers during the summit, Blair was supportive, stating that "it was passed in exactly the procedure as described in our legislation in Ontario." Post-summit reports revealed that on June 25, prior to the start of the summit and shortly after Blair defended a widely reported misinterpretation of the regulation in a press conference, the police department received a government bulletin clarifying the misinterpretation and explaining that the new regulation accorded them no additional power to demand identification outside of the summit perimeter. Blair's spokesperson stated that as of the press conference, Blair was unaware of the clarification; however, Blair did not retract his prior remarks to the press after receiving the bulletin. When interviewed after the summit, Blair confirmed that there was never an extraordinary legal requirement for the public to present identification within five metres of the perimeter fence, but that he "was trying to keep the criminals out." In December 2010, following a critical report by Ontario Ombudsman André Marin, Blair admitted regret that he had initially interpreted the regulation at face value and did not promptly clear up confusion about the meaning of the regulation.
In 2013, Blair came into conflict with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford after confirming to the media that the police had obtained a video of the mayor smoking what appeared to be crack cocaine. Blair said he was "disappointed" in the mayor.{{cite news|last=CBC News|date=31 October 2013|title=Police Chief Bill Blair on the Rob Ford video|work=CBC News|publisher=CBC/Radio-Canada|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/police-chief-bill-blair-on-the-rob-ford-video-1.2303505|access-date=July 30, 2014}} As the investigation into the mayor and his friend Alessandro Lisi continued, Mayor Ford dared Blair to arrest him and accused him of wasting money in their surveillance of Ford.{{cite news|last1=Hui |first1=Ann |first2=Jill |last2=Mahoney |name-list-style=amp |date=28 February 2014|title='Arrest me,' Toronto Mayor Rob Ford dares police chief|work=The Globe and Mail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/fords-step-up-attacks-on-toronto-police-chief-bill-blair/article17133526/|access-date=30 July 2014}} Rob Ford's brother, Councillor Doug Ford, claimed that Blair had "gone rogue" and violated the Police Services Act when speaking out about the mayor during the ongoing police investigation. On August 11, 2014, Blair served Councillor Doug Ford with notice of defamation. Doug Ford accused the police chief of using the suit as "payback" in retaliation against the mayor for not extending his contract, but apologized for his comments shortly afterwards.{{cite news|title=Toronto police Chief Bill Blair serves Doug Ford with notice of defamation|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2014/08/12/chief_bill_blair_serves_doug_ford_with_notice_of_legal_action.html|last=Pagliaro|first=Jennifer|date=12 August 2014|newspaper=Toronto Star}}
In his last years in office, Blair was in conflict with several members of the Toronto Police Services Board over resistance to proposed reforms as well as his resistance to cut the police budget. On July 30, 2014, the board announced that it would not renew Blair's contract for a third, five-year term. He retired from the police service when his contract ended on April 25, 2015,{{cite news|last=Powell|first=Betsy|date=30 July 2014|title=Toronto police board won't renew Bill Blair's contract|newspaper=Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2014/07/30/toronto_police_board_wont_renew_bill_blairs_contract.html|access-date=1 May 2020}} and was succeeded by Deputy Chief Mark Saunders.{{cite news |date=20 April 2015|title=LIVE: Toronto gets new police chief|newspaper=Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/04/20/live-toronto-gets-new-police-chief.html|access-date=1 May 2020}}
Political career
Blair declined to comment on his future plans while he was still police chief.{{cite news|last=Khandaker|first=Tamara|date=15 April 2015|title=Campaign to recruit Bill Blair for Liberal party launched online|newspaper=Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/04/15/campaign-to-recruit-bill-blair-for-liberal-party-launched-online.html|access-date=1 May 2020}} The Liberal Party recruited Blair to be its candidate in Scarborough Southwest for the 2015 federal election to be held October. On April 25, 2015, Blair confirmed his intention to seek the Liberal Party nomination in Scarborough Southwest.{{cite news|last=Campion-Smith|first=Bruce|date=25 April 2015|title=Bill Blair wants to run for Liberals in fall election|newspaper=Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/04/26/bill-blair-to-run-for-liberals-in-fall-election.html|access-date=1 May 2020}} He won the Liberal nomination on June 13, 2015.{{cite news|last=The Canadian Press|date=13 June 2015|title=Former Toronto police chief Bill Blair wins Liberal nomination|newspaper=Toronto Star|agency=The Canadian Press|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/13/former-toronto-police-chief-bill-blair-wins-liberal-nomination.html|access-date=1 May 2020}}
=42nd Parliament=
On October 19, 2015, Blair was elected to the 42nd Canadian Parliament in the Scarborough Southwest riding.{{Cite news|last=Rushowy|first=Kristin|date=19 October 2015|title=Toronto's former top cop was elected for the Liberals in Scarborough Southwest.|newspaper=Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/federal-election/federal-ridings-toronto-gta/2015/10/19/bill-blair-wins-scarborough-southwest.html|access-date=2016-01-11|issn=0319-0781}} On January 28, 2017, Blair was named parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice.{{Cite web|title = Trudeau names his 'middle bench,' as parliamentary secretaries assigned|url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-parliamentary-secretaries-named-1.3346942|website = www.cbc.ca|access-date = 2016-01-11}} In January 2016, Blair was named as the head of the federal-provincial task force tasked with creating a plan for the legalization of cannabis in Canada.{{Cite web|title=Bill Blair faces 'formidable challenge' in leading marijuana task force|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/bill-blair-to-lead-liberal-task-force-on-marijuana-legalization-source/article28075636/|last=Leblanc|first=Daniel|date=8 January 2016|website=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2016-01-11}}{{Cite web |title=The ex cops, politicians and friends of Bill Blair cashing in on legal weed |url=https://nowtoronto.com/news/cops-politicians-cashing-in-on-cannabis}} On September 19, 2017, Blair assumed the role of parliamentary secretary to the minister of health.Office of the Prime Minister of Canada. 2017. "[http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2017/09/19/statement-prime-minister-changes-parliamentary-secretaries Statement by the Prime Minister on changes to the Parliamentary Secretaries]." Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada.
Blair has held a number of roles working with the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
On July 18, 2018, Blair joined Cabinet when he was appointed Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction.Harris, Kathleen (18 July 2018). "[https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-cabinet-shuffle-2018-1.4749976 Trudeau cabinet shuffle brings new faces, several changes for run-up to 2019 campaign]." CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada.
=43rd Parliament=
Blair was made Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness on November 20, 2019,Zimonjic, Peter (20 November 2019). "[https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-full-cabinet-complete-list-1.5365026 Who's who in Justin Trudeau's 2019 cabinet Peter]." CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. soon after his re-election to the 43rd Canadian Parliament. In his role he oversaw the closure of the border between Canada and the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-18|title=Canada-U.S. border restrictions extended until at least July 21: Bill Blair|url=https://www.cp24.com/mobile/news/canada-u-s-border-restrictions-extended-until-at-least-july-21-bill-blair-1.5476125|access-date=2021-06-18|website=CP24|language=en}}
=44th Parliament=
Blair became President of the Privy Council on October 26, 2021, and dropped public safety from his portfolio, becoming Minister of Emergency Preparedness,{{Cite web |date=2021-10-26 |title=Prime Minister welcomes new Cabinet |url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/10/26/prime-minister-welcomes-new-cabinet |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=Prime Minister of Canada |language=en}} soon after his re-election to the 44th Canadian Parliament. In November 2021, Blair oversaw the Canadian Armed Forces' operation to help those in the Pacific coast of British Columbia amidst torrential rains that caused landslides and floods.{{cite news |date=Nov 17, 2021 |title='There'll be boots on the ground': Minister details what support Canadian military offering in B.C. |agency=CityNews |url=https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2021/11/17/canada-military-bc-floods/ |access-date=25 July 2023}} Blair played a key role in the federal government's response to the Canada convoy protest, where the Emergencies Act was invoked.{{Cite web |title='Threat still exists': Emergencies Act to remain as long as required, Bill Blair says - National {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8634489/emergencies-act-use-freedom-convoy-bill-blair-west-block/ |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=Global News |language=en-US}} In September 2022, Blair coordinated the federal response to Hurricane Fiona.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-24 |title=Feds to send military assistance, match Red Cross donations for Fiona recovery |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/feds-to-send-military-assistance-match-red-cross-donations-for-fiona-recovery-1.6083110 |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=CTVNews |language=en}}
During a cabinet shuffle in July 2023, he was made Minister of National Defence.{{cite news |date=July 26, 2023 |title='Prime Minister Trudeau is shuffling his cabinet today. Here's what we know |agency=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cabinet-shuffle-trudeau-1.6916367 |access-date=26 July 2023}}
Awards and recognition
In 2007, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces and in 2012, he was elevated within the Order to the level of Commander.{{cite web|title=Appointment by Order of the Governor General of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces|url=http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-03-24/html/gh-rg-eng.html|date=5 January 2012|website=Canada Gazette}} He is a Member of the Venerable Order of Saint John. On January 19, 2013, Blair was honoured by the Canadian Tamil Congress, with their inaugural "Leaders for Change Award" for his exemplary leadership during the protests of 2009 in Toronto.
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;" | ||
| style="background:silver;" align="center"
|Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| 40px | Order of Merit of the Police Forces (COM) | * Commander 5 January 2012.
|
| 40px | Order of St John | * Member |
| 40px | Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal{{cite web |title=Bill Blair {{!}} Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/126-239575 |website=The Governor General of Canada}} | * 2012
|
| 40px | Police Exemplary Service Medal{{cite web |last1=Bieser-Hutchinson |first1=Carol |title=Chief of Police, William (Bill) Blair |url=https://www.rotarytoronto.com/stories/chief-of-police-william-(bill)-blair |date=2 March 2015}} | * Medal 17 July 1997
|
Electoral record
{{2025 Canadian federal election/Scarborough Southwest}}
{{2021 Canadian federal election/Scarborough Southwest}}
{{2019 Canadian federal election/Scarborough Southwest}}
{{2015 Canadian federal election/Scarborough Southwest}}
References
{{reflist|30em|refs=
{{citation |title=Police powers expanded for G20 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/police-powers-expanded-for-g20-1.888745 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217135633/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2010/06/25/g20-new-powers.html |archive-date=2012-02-17 |access-date=2010-12-24 |date=2010-06-25 |publisher=CBC News |url-status=live |quote=Civil liberties groups are concerned about the new regulations, but Toronto police Chief Bill Blair defended the move to add the new powers and denied there was any attempt to deceive the public about how or when they were enacted.}}
{{citation |first1=Jayme |last1=Poisson |title=The buck stops here, Chief Blair says |url=https://www.thestar.com/article/903724 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014113756/http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/g20/2010/12/08/the_buck_stops_here_chief_blair_says.html |archive-date=2015-10-14 |access-date=2010-12-23 |date=2010-12-08 |newspaper=Toronto Star |quote=In the face of growing criticisms of his handling of the G20 and its aftermath, Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair says he will not resign.}}
{{cite news |author=Carlson, Katherine Blaze |date=2013-11-09 |title=When 'the weight of the city' is on you |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |page=M4}}
{{citation|title=Canada Gazette, Part I|url=http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2008/2008-03-29/pdf/g1-14213.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522212607/http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2008/2008-03-29/pdf/g1-14213.pdf|archive-date=22 May 2013|access-date=3 May 2020|volume=142|number=13|date=29 March 2008|newspaper=Canada Gazette|pages=840–841
|url-status=dead}}
{{citation|author=Sajous, Emmanuelle|date= 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522214642/http://www.gazette.gc.ca/archives/p1/2006/2006-04-29/pdf/g1-14017.pdf#4|title= Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem|url=http://www.gazette.gc.ca/archives/p1/2006/2006-04-29/pdf/g1-14017.pdf#4|url-status=dead|publisher=Canada Gazette|volume= 140|issue=17|pages=868–871|archive-date=22 May 2013|access-date=3 May 2020}}
|newspaper=Now Magazine|quote=Blair won in what sources indicate was a four-two vote. Word is, he managed to appeal to Fantino fans Case Ootes and Hugh Locke without completely alienating the so-called progressive contingent.|url-status=dead}}
{{cite web |title=Command Officers' biographies {{!}} William Blair |url=http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/bios/blair.php |publisher=Toronto Police Service |access-date=2010-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328132425/http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/bios/blair.php |archive-date=2010-03-28 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite news|last=CTV Toronto|date=11 May 2009|title=Tamil protesters leave Toronto highway|work=CTV News|publisher=Bell Media|url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/tamil-protesters-leave-toronto-highway-1.397447|access-date=29 July 2018}}
{{cite news|last=The Canadian Press|date=11 May 2009|title=Police tolerance of Tamil protests may lessen after highway storming: expert|work=CP24|publisher=Bell Media|agency=The Canadian Press|url=https://www.cp24.com/police-tolerance-of-tamil-protests-may-lessen-after-highway-storming-expert-1.397525|access-date=29 July 2018}}
{{cite web|title=Toronto Police chief Bill Blair honored at Canadian Tamil Congress dinner|url=http://www.tamils.com/component/k2/item/547-toronto-police-chief-bill-blair-honored-at-canadian-tamil-congress-dinner.html|last1=Tamils Admin|date=24 January 2013|website=TAMILS.com|publisher=Canadian Tamil Congress|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216210713/http://www.tamils.com/component/k2/item/547-toronto-police-chief-bill-blair-honored-at-canadian-tamil-congress-dinner.html|archive-date=16 February 2013|access-date=29 July 2018}}
{{cite web |author=Paperny, Anna Mehler |title=Toronto police knew they had no extra arrest powers |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/toronto-police-knew-they-had-no-extra-arrest-powers/article1623566/ |date=June 29, 2010 |publisher=The Globe and Mail|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702064109/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/toronto-police-knew-they-had-no-extra-arrest-powers/article1623566/|archive-date=July 2, 2010}}
{{cite web |title=Police admit no five-metre rule existed on security fence law |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/police-admit-no-five-metre-rule-existed-on-security-fence-law/article4349840/ |date=June 29, 2010 |publisher=The Globe and Mail|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425220245/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/police-admit-no-five-metre-rule-existed-on-security-fence-law/article4349840/|archive-date=April 25, 2015}}
}}
External links
{{Commons category|Bill Blair}}
- {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=18537|2=Bill Blair}}
- [https://billblair.liberal.ca/ Official site]
- [https://pm.gc.ca/en/cabinet/honourable-bill-blair Bio & mandate from the Prime Minister]
{{s-start}}
{{Canadian federal ministry navigational box header |ministry=29}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post1preceded = Position created
| post1 = Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
| post1years = July 17, 2018 – November 20, 2019
| post1note =
| post1followed = Position abolished
| post2preceded = Ralph Goodale
| post2 = Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
| post2years = November 20, 2019 – October 26, 2021
| post2note =
| post2followed = Marco Medicino
| post3preceded = Dominic LeBlanc
| post3 = President of the King's Privy Council for Canada
| post3years = October 26, 2021 – July 26, 2023
| post3note =
| post3followed = Harjit Sajjan
| post4preceded = Anita Anand
| post4 = Minister of National Defence
| post4years = July 26, 2023 – present
| post4note =
| post4followed = Incumbent
}}
{{s-end}}
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