The Sudbury provincial Liberal riding association was a dysfunctional group from the spring of 2014 through to early 2015, a bribery trial heard Monday.
According to the Sudbury Star, last week, the Liberal candidate for the riding in the June 2014 provincial election, Andrew Olivier, testified that retired Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci did not campaign with him at all during the election.
Olivier made the comments while testifying at the trial of Sudbury businessman and Liberal fundraiser Gerry Lougheed Jr. and the premier’s former deputy chief of staff, Patricia Sorbara.
Sorbara and Lougheed are charged under the Ontario Election Act with trying to get Olivier, the party’s unsuccessful candidate in the 2014 general election, out of the running for the by-election with a promise of a job or appointment.
The Star says Sorbara testified that testimony was in contrast to what she believed.
In a recorded conversation with Olivier, played in court, she told him that Bartolucci had indicated to Premier Kathleen Wynne’s staff that he was out every day with him during the campaign.
Lougheed faces one count and Sorbara two counts each of bribery under the Ontario Election Act.
The trial continues.