Article content continued

People with knowledge of the phone conversation claim Tierney offered to make a large donation to the food bank if Schurter didn’t register to run in Beacon Hill-Cyrville.

“I have done absolutely nothing wrong. I’m 100 per cent confident this soon will be established,” Tierney said in an emailed response to a request for comment. “I remain committed to serving the people of Beacon Hill-Cyrville to the fullest.”

The complaint first landed in the hands of the Ottawa Police Service.

Chief Charles Bordeleau said the police force received the complaint and he discussed the matter with the chair of the police services board. They agreed that because there might be a potential conflict of interest, the complaint should be referred to the OPP, Bordeleau said.

Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia Network

Bordeleau, who noted that the city clerk has also been notified about the matter, declined to say when Ottawa police received the complaint.

City clerk and solicitor Rick O’Connor said, “I can neither confirm nor deny that there’s any sort of investigation or review going on.”

Staff Sgt. Carolle Dionne, the OPP’s provincial media relations co-ordinator, confirmed that Bordeleau requested the OPP’s assistance but declined to provide further details about the investigation.

“Members of our anti-rackets branch are currently investigating the matter involving the municipal elections,” Dionne said in an email. “As this investigation is still in the preliminary stages, we can’t speak to the specifics at this time.”