Gerry Lougheed Jr., Ontario Liberal fundraiser, charged in Sudbury byelection scandal

Ontario Provincial Police have laid criminal charges against provincialLiberal Party fundraiser Gerry Lougheed Jr.in relation tothe Sudbury byelection in February.

Police sayLougheed has been charged with these Criminal Code offences:

• One count of counselling an offence not committed.
• One count of unlawfully influencing or negotiating appointments.

Lougheedreleased a statement Thursday morning, saying he would be "vigorously defending these charges in the courts."

"I have no further comments at this time as this matter is now before the courts," he said.

• Andrew Olivier releases documents over alleged appointment offer

• Adding up a scandal: the Sudbury byelection by the numbers

The investigation was launched after a former Liberal candidatesaid he was offered a job or an appointment to step aside in the Feb. 5byelection for Premier Kathleen Wynne's preferred candidate, formerNew Democrat Glenn Thibeault.

Wynnehasalways maintained the Liberals were just trying to keepformer candidate Andrew Olivier in the party fold, and there was noneed to offer him a job or appointment to step aside because he wasnot going to be the candidate.

Thibeault won the byelection for the Liberals, taking back theSudbury riding they had lost to the New Democrats in the 2014general election.

The OPP said in a statement "thishas been a very uncommon investigation," and said they will provide no further comment.

Greater Sudbury Policeconfirm that Lougheed has stepped aside as chair of the Sudbury Police Services Board.

Huntington University also confirmed that Lougheed has stepped aside as chancellor of the school just hours before he was to be formally installed in the ceremonial office.

One of the charges carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

According to OPP, Lougheedis due to appear in court on Nov. 18.

'Will the premier step aside?'

At Queen's Park today,opposition partiesmaintainedLougheed was acting on orders from Premier KathleenWynne.

"The premier has disgraced her office," said PC leader Patrick Brown."Will the premier step aside?"

According to NDP House Leader GillesBisson,"Everybody has heard the tapes ...Mr. Lougheed was very clear he was there on behalf of the Premier of Ontario."

Wynnewas not in the Legislature to answer to the opposition herself, butDeputy Premier Deb Matthews defended her, saying "The premier has cooperated fully with the police investigation."

Wynne's deputy chief of staff Pat Sorbarawas also under investigation, but Matthews saidthe OPP have told Sorbara's lawyer she will not be charged.

Olivier, Thibeault respond

Spurned former Sudbury Liberal candidateAndrew Olivier released a statement to the press on Thursday afternoon.

"Although I did not initiate this investigation, I will cooperate as I have from the outset with the authorities in any way I can," he wrote.

"The legal advice I have received and which I have accepted is to not make any further statements regarding these events while the matter is before the courts."

At Queen's Park, Liberal MPP Glenn Thibeault faced a barrage of questions from reporters about thecharges and about Lougheed'ssupport of him.

A high-profile defection from the federal NDP to the Ontario Liberalsin Dec. 2014 left some in the Sudbury riding feeling like they'd"been slapped in the face". When asked whether Lougheed's fundraising efforts or political clout helped to smooth the way to his victory in the riding, Thibeault said Lougheed was"just [as important as]any volunteer".

"I think most of the heavy-lifting was done by myself," he said.

And when asked by a reporterwhether he thinks the "commotion"has been worth it to clinch oneseat:

"You know what? Politics is politics. Elections are elections," he continued. "For me, representing the people of Sudbury is always worth it. Hindsight is 20-20."