Liberals need to be held to account over by-election bribery scandal
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 9, 2015
Liberals need to be held to account over by-election bribery
scandal
(Queen’s Park) – Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott is continuing to help hold the
Government’s feet to the fire over findings by Ontario’s Chief Electoral Officer that the Liberals
appear to have attempted to bribe a candidate to drop out of the Sudbury by-election.
Following up on his questions to the Premier on February 26, Mr. Arnott once again challenged
the Government in Question Period to come clean and to hold those responsible to account.
“Instead of creating a culture which respects and adheres to the spirit and letter of the elections
law, the Premier has created a ‘win at all costs’ culture in her office, even if that means
cheating,” Mr. Arnott charged.
On February 19, Ontario’s Chief Electoral Officer, Greg Essensa, submitted a bombshell report,
which found that Patricia Sorbara and Gerry Lougheed Jr. appear to have broken the Ontario
Elections Act by attempting to bribe a candidate not to run in the by-election by offering a
Government appointment.
In his report, Mr. Essensa stated: “Having reviewed the evidence and finding from this
regulatory investigation, I am of the opinion that the actions of Gerry Lougheed Jr. and Patricia
Sorbara amount to apparent contraventions of subsections 96.1(e) of the Election Act as
reflected in my attached report.”
Ms. Sorbara serves as Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Mr. Lougheed is a
Liberal operative who was appointed by the Liberal Government to the Sudbury Police Services
Board, which he currently serves as Chair.
“[The Premier] either delegated too much authority to her Machiavellian staff and political
operatives, or she signed off on the plan to office an enticement to Mr. Olivier to get him to stand
down as a candidate, or worse, she ordered her staff to make the offer, which can only be called
a bribe and a breach of Ontario’s election law,” Mr. Arnott argued.
There are currently two ongoing police investigations into the Liberals actions during the
Sudbury by-election.
“The Premier has a responsibility to uphold the integrity of her office. When will she demand the
resignations of Ms. Sorbara and Mr. Lougheed?” he asked.
(Attached: The text of Mr. Arnott’s questions to the Premier, March 9, 2015)
– 30 –
Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
Text of Mr. Arnott’s questions to the Premier, March 9, 2015
Question 1:
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier and it’s about the Sudbury by-election.
Instead of creating a culture which respects and adheres to the spirit and letter of the elections
law, the Premier has created a ‘win at all costs’ culture in her office, even if that means cheating.
That was her first mistake.
Then, she either delegated too much authority to her Machiavellian staff and political operatives,
OR she signed off on the plan to offer an enticement to Mr. Olivier to get him to stand down as a
candidate, OR WORSE, she ordered her staff to make the offer, which can only be called a
bribe and a breach of Ontario’s election law. That was her second mistake.
The Premier has a responsibility to uphold the integrity of her office. When will she demand the
resignations of Ms. Sorbara and Mr. Lougheed?
Question 2:
This is a channel the Premier can’t change. In order to maintain the public’s confidence and
trust while these two police investigations continue to unfold, the Premier needs to demand the
resignations of Ms. Sorbara and Mr. Lougheed. So far, she has steadfastly refused to do so.
This is her third mistake when it comes to the Sudbury byelection.
And by stating in this House that she believes Ms. Sorbara won’t be charged, the Premier has
interfered in, and possibly compromised, an ongoing police investigation. The fourth mistake,
because Parliamentary Democracy requires a clear separation between the legislative branch
and the judiciary.
The Sudbury by-election scandal is one the Premier can’t blame on her predecessor or his
people. When is she going to take personal responsibility for her role in this, and demand the
resignations of Sorbara and Lougheed?