Wynne on Olivier tapes: Liberals were only presenting 'options'

Morning North7:07The Olivier tapes

Independent candidate Andrew Olivier released recorded conversations between himself and Liberal party officials discussing giving him something for not seeking the Liberal nomination. The CBC's Erik White was in our studio to talk about the fallout.​Premier Kathleen Wynne says the audio tapes released yesterday by former Liberal candidate Andrew Olivier demonstrate that no back-room offer was made to him in exchange for his support of Glenn Thibeault.

Wynne asked Andrew Olivier, the Liberal candidate in Sudbury, Ont., in last June's general election, not to seek the nomination for the upcoming byelection because she had another preferred candidate.

He has alleged that the Liberals offered him a job or appointment in exchange for stepping aside.

Olivier, who is a quadriplegic and records conversations in lieu of taking notes, posted audio to YouTube of conversations he had, including with the Ontario Liberal campaign director, which he says back up his claims.

But the Liberals say the recordings confirm they were encouraging Olivier to stay involved with the party, but that no specific offers or commitments were made.

"There was a sort of engagement with Andrew on what he might be interested in doing going forward.  But there was absolutely no commitment that any one of those things might come to fruition," Wynne said.

Speaking in Sault Ste. Marie today, Wynne said that if audio of her conversation with Olivier also ends up being released it will show they were trying to "present opportunities that Andrew might want to take advantage of" to remain part of the Liberal team, but there was "no specificity around what the options might be."