OPP probe whether Liberals breached Criminal Code in Sudbury byelection
Andrew Olivier claims he was offered a job or appointment to step aside in byelection
Police believe the Liberal Party may have breached the Criminal Code during the run-up to Thursday night's byelection in Sudbury, OPP documents obtained by CBC News show.
The Information to Obtain documents were filed by Ontario Provincial Police in order to obtain a court order to gather further evidence in their investigation.
Police said earlier this week they were after taped conversations between Independent candidate Andrew Olivier and Liberal Party members.
The ITO is a document police use to convince courts to grant court orders or search warrants.
The document filed by OPP suggests that one or more offences contrary to an act of Parliament have been committed by negotiating appointments contrary to the Criminal Code.
Olivier was the Liberal candidate in the June 2014 provincial election. He planned to seek the nomination again, but claims he was offered a job or appointment by Liberal Party members to step aside in the byelection in favour of former NDP MP Glenn Thibeault.
Thibeault left his career in federal politics to run as the Liberal candidate in the byelection.
The conversations were between Olivier, campaign director Pat Sorbara and Liberal Party member Gerry Lougheed.
Olivier posted the conversations between himself and Liberal Party members on social media.
This week, Olivier said he did not tape his conversation with Premier Kathleen Wynne and said Wynne didn't make him any specific offer.
OPP mum on possible charges
OPP Det.-Supt. Dave Truax said the ITO was required for a thorough and detailed investigation.
"The information contained in the ITO speaks for itself and the OPP will not comment further on an ongoing investigation in order to protect the integrity of the investigation."
Truax didn't say if charges will be laid.
"We will conduct a thorough and detailed investigation and when it comes to a conclusion, then it'll be determined at that point in time what if any further action occurs."
At this stage, none of the allegations in the police document have been proven in court.
Truax wouldn't speculate on how long the investigation will take.