Ontario premier trades integrity for tainted political win, says Huron-Bruce MPP

Thursday, the Chief Electoral Officer released his report on the apparent contravention of the Elections Act in the Sudbury byelection.

 

“Having reviewed the evidence and findings from this regulatory investigation, it is my opinion that the actions of Gerry Lougheed Jr. and Patricia Sorbara constitute an 'apparent contravention' of Subsection 96.1(e) of the Election Act,” he said.

 

Patricia Sorbara is Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne’s deputy chief of staff; Gerry Lougheed Jr. is a fund-raiser for the Ontario Liberal Party and chairman of the Sudbury Police Services Board.

 

“This Liberal government is now under three OPP investigations," says Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson. "To me, it seems the premier traded integrity for a tainted political win, and needs to take responsibility. Premier Wynne must demand the resignation of her deputy chief of staff and the chairman of the Sudbury Police Services Board for their conduct."

 

This is a first in Ontario’s history, says Thompson. "The Chief Electoral Officer explicitly says in the report, 'no Chief Electoral Officer of Ontario has ever conducted a regulatory investigation into allegations of bribery or ever reported an apparent contravention of the home statutes of my office to the Attorney General'.

 

“This is unprecedented. It proves yet again how the Wynne Liberals have no respect for the law and refuse to be accountable and transparent to the people of this province.”