TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty says school officials who called authorities over a drawing by a four-year-old of her father with a gun shouldn't be condemned.
"I don't think there's any doubt about the sincerity of the school and the teachers involved that there was a genuine concern...I think the question we've got to ask ourselves is, was that the best way to give expression to that concern?"
Jessie Sansone, the girl's father, was arrested by police and strip-searched. His pregnant wife and the family's other three children were also interviewed by Family and Children's Services.
But a search of the family's Kitchener home found only a toy gun and no charges were laid.
In Ontario, teachers and school officials are required to call authorities when they have grounds to believe a child may be in harm's way.
The school, police and child welfare officials stand by their actions.
Sansone initially told a local newspaper about his arrest, and the story has since received international attention, with much condemnation of the actions taken by police.
However, calls from CTV News to Sansone's Ottawa-based lawyer have not been returned.
The Waterloo Region Police Service is reviewing how the situation was handled, and the force maintains the arrest was not based solely on the drawing but also on conversations with the child.
Since the arrest, online postings about Sansone's work as a rap artist, including social media profiles and music videos, appear to have been removed.
CTV News has also learned that in 2008 Sansone was convicted of assault in Toronto.
He received a suspended sentence and 12 months probation. He was also prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm for five years.
With files from The Canadian Press
