Wynne questioned by police

The Ontario Provincial Police questioned Premier Kathleen Wynne Wednesday about allegations the Liberal party offered a former candidate a job or appointment to step aside in a recent byelection.

The premier’s office issued a statement Tuesday evening confirming the meeting with police took place, but it did not say where, how long it lasted, or how many detectives asked Wynne about the lead-up to the Feb. 2 byelection in Sudbury.

“The premier answered openly and her questions were consistent with the public statements she has already made,” said the statement from Wynne’s press secretary, Zita Astravas.

“The premier has been open with the legislature, the media and the public about the allegations related to the Sudbury byelection.”

Her office declined to answer any questions about Wynne’s meeting with the police. “We will continue to co-operate fully and will have no further comments so as to not interfere with the ongoing investigation,” said Astravas.

The Progressive Conservative and New Democratic Party leaders said Tuesday that it was “appalling ” and “unseemly” to see a sitting Ontario premier being questioned by police.

Just before the byelection, Andrew Olivier, the Liberal candidate in Sudbury in last year’s election, said Wynne’s deputy chief of staff, Pat Sorbara, and Sudbury Liberal Gerry Lougheed, offered him a job or appointment to step aside in favour of Wynne’s preferred choice, then-NDP MP Glenn Thibeault.

Wynne has repeatedly said there was no need to offer Olivier anything because she’d already decided he wouldn’t be the Liberal candidate, but she wanted to keep him active and involved in the party.