Steve Clark, the deputy leader of the Ontario PCs, has said he’s “concerned” about the Crown staying charges against prominent Sudbury Liberal, Gerry Lougheed Jr., regarding the Sudbury byelection scandal.
Clark, who originally asked the OPP to investigate the actions of what he calls “Liberal Party operatives,” Lougheed and Pat Sorbara, in the byelection, that saw Glenn Thibeault become the Liberal’s hand-picked candidate in the Sudbury riding.
“Ontarians, and in particular the people of Sudbury, deserve to see justice done in this case,” Clark said in a news release. “It is curious that a decision would be made to suspend the corruption charges against Gerry Lougheed Jr. before, and not after, the OPP have completed their investigation against Mr. Lougheed and Pat Sorbara under the Election Act.
“I believe that the public needs to be told that even if charges are laid under the Election Act and someone is convicted of those charges, the criminal trial against Lougheed could still go ahead.”
The OPP have until February 2017 to complete an investigation into the apparent contraventions of the Election Act as detailed in the February 2015 report by Ontario’s chief electoral officer.
“This is why the Ontario PC Caucus is calling for a public inquiry into the Ontario Liberal Party’s fundraising activities. If the premier has nothing to hide, she would allow an inquiry to look into how Liberal operatives like Gerry Lougheed Jr. raise money for her party,” Clark concluded.