The OPP have laid charges in connection with last year’s bribery allegation in Sudbury where Liberals asked one of their own not to seek the candidacy in a by-election. Police have charged 61-year-old Gerry Lougheed Junior with unlawfully influencing or negotiating appointments and counselling an offense not committed. Former candidate Andrew Olivier claimed high ranking Liberals asked him not run for the party and in return he could get an appointment or job.
Liberals, including Premier Kathleen Wynne all denied Olivier was bribed. But Olivier, who is a quadriplegic, records all his conversations and claimed to have the offers on tape. Olivier eventually chose not to seek the candidacy which allowed NDP MP Glenn Thibeault to jump ship and run for the Liberals. OPP have been investigating the allegations since January. They refer to the case as a complex one that involved alleged irregularities over the appointment process of a political candidate.
(Written by Rocco Frangione)