Premier Kathleen Wynne has orchestrated a key political defection, luring NDP MP Glenn Thibeault to be the Liberal candidate in the upcoming Sudbury byelection.

As first disclosed by thestar.com early Tuesday, Wynne, who derailed former Liberal candidate Andrew Olivier’s bid to become Ontario’s first quadriplegic MPP, convinced Thibeault to effectively cross the floor and switch levels of government.

“I have spoken to Premier Kathleen Wynne about her plan to create greater opportunity and security for all Ontarians — and her plan is exactly what Sudbury needs,” the two-term New Democrat said in a statement suggesting that he’s cabinet-bound.

“I have taken the time to read the mandate letters the premier assigned to cabinet ministers and parliamentary assistants and it has become clear to me that I want to play a part in the important work her government is doing to build for the future.”

Wynne said she was “thrilled” to welcome Thibeault, who recently achieved his six-year eligibility for an MP’s pension and has not yet resigned as the federal member for the riding of Sudbury.

“I know that the residents of Sudbury deserve and are eager to have a stable representative at Queen’s Park as soon as possible,” the premier said in an apparent shot at former NDP MPP Joe Cimino, who resigned Nov. 20 for unspecified personal reasons just five months after being elected.

Thibeault’s departure is a major blow to federal NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair — a former Quebec Liberal cabinet minister — less than 10 months before an election.

It’s also difficult for provincial NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, who’s still reeling from the Cimino affair. He had won a seat previously held by the Liberals for almost a generation and his victory was one of the few bright spots for her party this year.

Thibeault, federal caucus chair until two weeks ago, backed Mulcair in the 2012 NDP leadership and had worked closely with Ontario New Democrats, supporting MPP Gilles Bisson in the 2009 provincial leadership.

Bisson bitterly lashed out at his former ally, calling him “a turncoat MP who is more interested in his own career than the people of Sudbury.”

Sources say Thibeault’s relations with Mulcair have been strained for some time.

Aware of that and mindful the New Democrats may have trouble replicating their 2011 federal electoral success in Ontario next year, the provincial Liberals actively wooed ‎him.

But Grit sources insist they have not promised the Sudbury MP a cabinet post if he wins a byelection expected on Feb. 12.

Should he triumph, Thibeault will take a hefty pay cut. MPs make $163,700 with a pension while MPPs earn $116,500 and have no pension plan. (He was paid an extra $11,500 a year to be caucus chair‎, a post he held until Dec. 4.)

On Monday, Wynne confirmed she told Olivier, runner-up to Cimino in the June provincial election, he wasn’t wanted as a candidate again.

“There was a discussion with Andrew Olivier,” she said. “This is a new situation. I’m sorry that Andrew is disappointed. I understand that. I do hope that he stays involved in the Liberal Party and politics in general.”

Olivier hinted that Wynne’s office promised him a job or an appointment if he stepped aside, but he declined their tacit offers because he wanted to run.

However, Liberals told him another unnamed candidate‎ would be appointed if he didn’t get out of the way.

“I will not be bullied, I will not be bought,” said Olivier.

The controversy led Bisson and Progressive Conservative House leader Steve Clark to write to Ontario Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa‎ and Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Vince Hawkes respectively to request investigations.

Wynne on Monday denied anything untoward had happened.

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‎Olivier said he has not ruled out running as an independent in the byelection.

Thibeault’s move will trigger a federal byelection‎ unless Prime Minister Stephen Harper calls an early election this spring.

That could rob the Liberals of a key campaign talking point: blaming Cimino and the New Democrats for sparking a vote costing between $350,000 and $500,000.

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