Statutory appeal of preliminary disciplinary rulings dismissed as premature because the rulings were interlocutory, not final.
The appellant, a police officer, faced disciplinary charges for discreditable conduct related to a fire in a property room.
He brought preliminary motions before the Hearing Officer to dismiss the charges for failing to meet the six-month limitation period under section 69(18) of the Police Services Act.
The Hearing Officer dismissed the motions.
The appellant appealed these preliminary rulings to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission under section 70(1) of the Act.
The Commission held that its jurisdiction under section 70(1) is limited to appeals of final orders.
Because the Hearing Officer's rulings did not finally dispose of the disciplinary proceedings against the appellant, they were interlocutory.
Consequently, the appeal was deemed premature and dismissed, and the disciplinary hearing was directed to proceed.