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If charged and convicted, Sorbara, Premier Kathleen Wynne’s deputy chief of staff, and Lougheed, Sudbury Liberal operative and appointee, could faces fines up to $25,000 and two years less a day in prison, according to a criminal lawyer.

As it stands, no formal charges have been laid and the matter is not before the courts.

[np_storybar title=”Ontario premier dances her way out of ethical mess with a master class in political footwork

” link=”http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/02/18/kelly-mcparland-kathleen-wynne-dances-her-way-out-of-sudbury-mess-with-a-master-class-in-political-footwork/”]

One of the essential skills of any successful politician is the ability to say the most ridiculous things while sounding perfectly sincere. Ontario’s Premier Kathleen Wynne demonstrated Tuesday that she’s a master at the art.

Ms. Wynne found herself in a bit of an embarrassment recently when Liberal party figures were caught trying to muscle a would-be candidate into stepping aside for a preferred replacement. The target of their efforts, Sudbury quadriplegic Andrew Olivier, wanted to run in a byelection as the Liberal candidate. Ms. Wynne’s people preferred another candidate, however, and wanted Mr. Olivier to go quietly. To that end, they dangled some juicy job offerings before him, making clear that Ms. Wynne would really, really appreciate his co-operation, and would make it worth his while.