Ontario’s integrity commissioner confirms he’s looking into the appointment of Toronto Police Superintendent Ron Taverner as the next OPP commissioner.

The Official Opposition is calling for a public inquiry into allegations of political interference in the appointment.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says the investigation cannot only happen behind closed doors.

She points out two rarely used subsections of the Public Inquiries Act allow the integrity commissioner to launch a public inquiry — power usually reserved for the premier and cabinet.

Meanwhile, Premier Doug Ford is defending Taverner’s appointment, saying he will eventually get the job.

”I can tell you one thing, once the review gets done, he’s going to be the best commissioner the OPP has ever seen,” said Ford.

”We look forward to having Ron Taverner as the commissioner of the OPP.”

The long-time friend of the Ford family, was to take over Monday but announced on the weekend he would wait until the investigation was completed.