Antonella Artuso

Queen’s Park Bureau Chief

TORONTO — Newly elected Liberal MPP Glenn Thibeault got a Sudbury-cold reception from opposition MPPs on his first appearance in the Ontario legislature.

"I understand why they’re that way — this is politics. I’m not a newbie to this," Thibeault told reporters Tuesday, when asked about the Ontario NDP’s frosty welcome and the controversy swirling around the Sudbury byelection that brought him to Queen’s Park.

"A win is a win is a win."

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said she was not reluctant to shake Thibeault’s hand, but acknowledged her greeting was not effusive.

The NDP denied the suggestion that NDP House Leader Gilles Bisson turned his back on Thibeault, saying it was just an awkward moment and not a snub.

Deputy Premier Deb Matthews accused the Ontario NDP of refusing to accept the will of Sudbury voters who elected Thibeault to office.

As the Ontario legislature got back to work Tuesday, Premier Kathleen Wynne was peppered with questions from opposition MPPs about whether she would ask her deputy chief of staff Pat Sorbara and Greater Sudbury Police Board Chair Gerry Lougheed Jr. to step aside from their positions while OPP investigate allegations they offered a job or appointment as a bribe to clear the path for Thibeault’s run.

Former Sudbury Liberal candidate Andrew Olivier made the accusation and released recorded conversations with Sorbara and Lougheed that are now being probed by the OPP anti-rackets squad.

In a court production order, the OPP alleged that Sorbara and Lougheed violated the Criminal Code by offering a job or appointment to a candidate as an inducement not to run.

The documents say that both Liberal organizers claimed to be speaking on behalf of Wynne.

Sorbara, Lougheed and Wynne have publicly stated that they did not offer a job to Olivier, and the allegations have not been proven in court, nor have charges been laid.

Wynne, who will be interviewed by the OPP over the scandal, said she sees no reason for Lougheed or Sorbara to stand down.

"The role that Pat Sorbara plays as deputy chief of staff is quite separate from her role as director of campaigns," Wynne said.

Later during question period, Wynne noted that the Sudbury police board had already voted to keep Lougheed in his current provincially appointed position.

"(The Ontario Liberals) want to just keep going ahead, pretending that they’re as good as gold and as innocent as can be, and that’s just not true," PC Interim Leader Jim Wilson said. "They’re bringing all politicians down."

The nature of the allegations led to some verbal gymnastics within the Ontario legislature Tuesday.

Speaker Dave Levac ruled that opposition MPPs could not ask Wynne if she tried to "bribe" Olivier with a job offer, deeming it unparliamentary language.

Bisson tried to substitute the word "blank," but the Speaker shot that down, too.

sud.editorial@sunmedia.ca