What is Project South Revealing About Police Corruption in Ontario? | The Rundown

Police chiefs in Toronto and York Region say seven Toronto police officers and one retired officer have been arrested in what they describe as one of the largest corruption cases in the service’s history. The investigation, known as "Project South," began after a veteran officer is alleged to have leaked the home address of a corrections officer to an accused drug trafficker — information police say led to an attempted hit. As investigators expanded the probe, they uncovered a wider set of allegations, including firearms offences, drug trafficking, bribery, and obstruction of justice. In response, Ontario’s inspector general of policing has ordered a province‑wide review of police services and police boards. The Rundown examines the allegations against the Toronto police officers involved in Project South, what happens next in the case, and the broader implications for public trust in policing. We'll also looks beyond Ontario, using a global corruption index to assess how public‑sector corruption is perceived internationally — and where Canada ranks. Guests: Jennifer Pagliaro, Toronto Star's crime reporter and Salvator Cusimano, Executive Director of Transparency International Canada. About The Rundown: The Rundown is your nightly half-hour deep dive into just one headline. With host Jeyan Jeganathan, we’ll cover everything from housing and health care to climate and AI. We’ll break down why each topic matters, who’s living it, and what’s being done to make things better – starting right here in Ontario. Slow down. Tune in. Make sense of the moment. And tell us what you think.