Premier Must Demonstrate Accountability as Charges Mount Against Liberal Operatives

(Point Edward, ON) – With the news that two more Liberal government operatives are facing criminal charges for their role in Ontario’s $1.1billion gas plant scandal, Premier Wynne must finally do what is right and show some accountability, says Sarnia-Lambton MPP, Bob Bailey.

“The people of Ontario deserve the highest level of accountability from their elected officials.  In the past three years there have been serious allegations levied against several high-ranking officials in the government.  Now the OPP has confirmed that these actions warrant criminal charges.  This is a disgrace and it undermines the credibility of the Office of the Premier of Ontario,” said MPP Bailey upon hearing the news.

“We need to remember that this is not the end of the OPP investigations into the Premier’s Office.  Pat Sorbara, Premier Wynne’s Deputy Chief of Staff is still the subject of an OPP investigation of an alleged breach of the Elections Act in relation to the Sudbury by-election scandal,” added MPP Bailey. “The Premier needs to stop dodging responsibility and instead demonstrate real accountability to the people of Ontario. I think it’s time that the Liberal Caucus seriously consider if they still have confidence in the leadership of this Premier, because I’m not sure that many Ontario residents do.”

The Ontario Provincial Police have laid breach of trust and mischief charges against David Livingston, former Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty’s Chief of Staff, and Laura Miller, former Deputy Chief of Staff, following a nearly two year investigation into their role in paying Miller’s common-law partner, Peter Faist, $10,000 to wipe clean the hard drives of several government computers during the early days of the gas plant scandal.

Last month, the OPP levied two criminal charges against a Liberal Party fundraiser, Gerry Lougheed Jr, in connection to his role in the Sudbury by-election bribery scandal.

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