Wynne to testify at Sorbara, Lougheed trial

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says she will testify at the trial of two Liberals facing bribery charges under the Election Act.

The trial for Pat Sorbara, the premier's former deputy chief of staff, and Liberal fundraiser Gerry Lougheed, is set to begin in September.

The pair is accused of offering a would-be candidate, Andrew Olivier, a job or appointment to get him to step aside in a 2015 byelection in Sudbury, Ont., for Glenn Thibeault.

At the time, Thibeault was a New Democrat MP. He is now the energy minister.

Sorbara and Lougheed both deny the charges.

Wynne was unavailable for an interview, but a spokesperson for the premier told CBC Sudbury that "Parliamentary Privilege extends to all members, and exempts a member from the normal obligation to attend court if summonsed as a witness, from 40 days before a session of the House begins until 40 days after it ends.

"The premier has said all along that she would be open and transparent throughout this process and that is exactly what she will continue to do. Therefore, if called, she will waive her parliamentary privilege and appear as a witness."