Sorbara, Lougheed accused of offering would-be candidate Andrew Olivier a job to step aside for premier’s preferred candidate in 2015 byelection

sudbury, ont.

The defence lawyer for one of two Ontario Liberals facing bribery charges under the Election Act says the case comes down to the definition of a candidate under the law.

Lawyers for Pat Sorbara, who was Wynne’s deputy chief of staff and Liberal campaign director, and local Liberal fundraiser Gerry Lougheed are arguing in court today for the case to be tossed.

Their directed verdict application calls on the judge to dismiss the charges before the defence has even called any witnesses, “the crown may not like the fact that internal party politics involve what some might describe (as) wheeling and dealing for the betterment of the party, but that’s not an offence in my submission.” arguing the Crown hasn’t proven its case.

Sorbara and Lougheed, who have pleaded not guilty, are accused of offering would-be candidate Andrew Olivier a job or appointment to step aside for Premier Kathleen Wynne’s preferred candidate in a 2015 byelection in Sudbury.

That preferred candidate was Glenn Thibeault, then the NDP MP.

It is contrary to the Election Act to offer a job “to induce a person to become a candidate, refrain from becoming a candidate or withdraw his or her candidacy” but Lougheed’s lawyer says it was a legal impossibility for Olivier to become the Liberal candidate, since the premier had already decided Thibeault would be appointed.

The definition of a candidate in the Election Act suggests someone isn’t a candidate under that law until an election writ has been issued, and lawyer Michael Lacy notes that Sorbara and Lougheed spoke to Olivier roughly a month before the byelection was called.

Lacy argued the Crown is trying to broaden that definition and if the judge rules in their favour, it would drastically change how political parties operate.

“The Crown may not like the fact that internal party politics involve what some might describe (as) wheeling and dealing for the betterment of the party, but that’s not an offence in my submission,” Lacy said.

Quebec’s police ethics commission has cited a former Montreal officer known as “Agent 728” for five code violations.

The case against Stefanie Trudeau involved a young Montrealer who was subjected in May 2012 to a so-called “Starlight Tour” in which he was driven around town in the back of a cruiser and dropped off far from home.

She was found guilty of five sanctions, including excessive force and negligently putting the health and safety of Julian Menezes at risk.

However, the committee did not uphold four of the violations, including one involving an alleged racial slur against Menezes, who is of South Asian descent.

Trudeau, who has left the police force, won’t learn her punishment until later this year.

Menezes says he hopes for a strong sanction to set a precedent.