SUDBURY, Ont. – Glenn Thibeault beat out NDP candidate Suzanne Shawbonquit and independent Andrew Olivier, who triggered a scandal after he was dumped by the Liberals in favour of Thibeault.
Olivier was the Liberal candidate in the June general election and lost by fewer than 1,000 votes to New Democrat Joe Cimino, who resigned the seat five months later, triggering the byelection.
Olivier, who finished third on Thursday, alleges the Liberals offered him a job or appointment in exchange for stepping aside.
READ MORE: OPP investigating whether Liberals committed crime in Sudbury byelection
As a quadriplegic, Olivier records many of his conversations in lieu of taking notes and later released audio of his conversations with two Liberals, which Olivier says back up his claims.
Olivier has said Premier Kathleen Wynne herself made no specific job offer but he wasn’t able to record his conversation with the premier due to technical difficulties.
The opposition parties said the Liberals’ actions amounted to bribery and asked the Ontario Provincial Police and Elections Ontario to investigate.
Media reports say Ontario Provincial Police believe the Liberals violated the Criminal Code in their dealings with Olivier.
The Liberals have denied the bribery allegations, saying they were trying to keep Olivier involved in the party after Thibeault’s appointment was already decided.
Thibeault’s win means his decision to jump ship and the Liberals’ gamble in appointing him instead of holding an open nomination paid off. The move rankled many in the community, with the local Liberal riding association executive quitting over the appointment.
But as a top Liberal told Olivier in one of his recorded conversations, Wynne was desperate “in a good way” to win back the Sudbury riding.
Before the last election the Liberals had held the seat for 19 years, so with the former stronghold in play again, Wynne showered attention on the riding, visiting six times since calling the byelection.
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