Sudbury byelection investigation: NDP wants independent review

The Ontario New Democrats say they're worried the Attorney General's office won't be able to investigate the Liberals objectively because the Attorney General is a Liberal herself.

Sudbury Liberal MPP Glenn Thibeault says NDP are trying to 'make something out of nothing'

CBC News · Posted: Feb 20, 2015 8:22 AM EST | Last Updated: February 20, 2015

Kathleen Wynne on Elections Ontario report

10 years ago

1:27

Ontario's Liberal premier talks to Peter Mansbridge about the controversial Sudbury byelection

Morning North8:06Elections Ontario report on Liberal dealings in Sudbury

Elections Ontario released its report on dealings by two Liberals leading up to the Sudbury byelection suggesting they breached the Elections Act. We heard from Andrew Willis of Elections Ontario and David Tabachnick, Political professor at Nipissing U.

Morning North8:06Liberals under attack at QP for apparent contravention of Elections Act

Ontario's Chief Electoral Officer says there was an "apparent contravention" of the Elections Act by the Liberals during the Sudbury byelection. We have some tape from Queen's park where the news dropped like a bombshell.The Ontario New Democrats say they're worried the Attorney General's office won't be able to investigate the Liberals objectively because the Attorney General is herself a Liberal.

The report from Elections Ontario alleges that local Liberal organizer Gerry Lougheed Jr. and the premier's deputy chief of staff, Pat Sorbara, appear to have breached an anti-bribery provision in the Elections Act in their discussions with former Liberal candidate Andrew Olivier.

The report, which examines allegations that Olivier was made offers in exchange for stepping aside as a candidate, has been referred to the attorney general of Ontario, Elections Ontario chief Greg Essensa said. The ministry has in turn delegated the federal Public Prosecution Service to decide whether to lay charges.

The OPP are already investigating the matter.

But, the opposition wants an independent investigation.

"The fact is that political interference is at the heart of this scandal,” said NDP House Leader Gilles Bisson.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath said that's why her party is pushing for an independent review.

"There needs to be a complete freedom from the perception of bias."

Meanwhile, the Liberals say they're letting the investigation play out.

Sudbury Liberal MPP Glenn Thibeault said the NDP are trying to make something out of nothing.

"If they were to look at the legislation that's already in there, this does go to an independent investigator through the Attorney General's office, so not a political person will be looking at this."

Elections Ontario spokesperson Andrew Willis said an investigation like this is a first.

“No chief electoral officer of Ontario has ever conducted a regulatory investigation into allegations of bribery or ever reported an apparent contravention of the Election Act or the Election Finances Act to the Ministry of the Attorney General,” he said.

CBC News contacted Lougheed, who declined to comment on the developments.