Clark Requests OPP Update on Sudbury By-Election Scandal

QUEEN’S PARK – This morning, Ontario PC Deputy Leader Steve Clark sent a letter to OPP Commissioner Vince Hawkes requesting an update on the OPP investigation into the apparent contravention of the Election Act by Premier Wynne’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Pat Sorbara, leading up to the Sudbury by-election.

Friday, February 19th marks the one year anniversary of Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essena tabling the unprecedented finding that Pat Sorbara and Liberal operative Gerry Lougheed Jr. were in apparent contravention of the Election Act.
“For a year Deputy Chief of Staff Pat Sorbara has had unfettered access to the Premier and all of the Liberal Government’s documents,” said MPP Steve Clark (Leeds-Grenville) in the Legislature. “Common sense would dictate that Pat Sorbara step aside while under OPP investigation, but this Premier won’t even entertain the thought.”
Recent investigations by the OPP have led to criminal charges against high-ranking Liberal Party operative Gerry Lougheed Jr. over his involvement in the Sudbury by-election scandal. In addition, David Livingston, former Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Chief of Staff, and Laura Miller, former Deputy Chief of Staff, were charged in connection with the destruction of emails related to the cancellation of two gas-fired power plants.
“Never before has a Premier allowed someone with so much influence to remain in their position while under police investigation. Integrity in the Premier’s office seems to be a foreign concept for this government,” added MPP Clark.
Leader Patrick Brown concluded, “A year after this historic finding from the Chief Electoral Officer the Premier has still assumed no responsibility. Will the Premier finally do the right thing and remove Pat Sorbara from her office?