SUDBURY—The Crown attorney prosecuting two Ontario Liberals charged with bribery under the provincial Election Act says the case may be the first of its kind. The charges against Pat Sorbara, the party’s CEO and 2018 campaign director, and Liberal operative Gerry Lougheed stem from allegations the pair offered a would-be candidate a job or appointment to get him to step aside in a 2015 byelection in Sudbury. Lawyers for the pair appeared on their behalf today in Sudbury for their first court appearance and the case was adjourned to Dec. 14. Ontario has given carriage of the case to the federal prosecution service. Vern Brewer, of the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, said outside court that he and the defence lawyers made an application to have the matter heard by a judge instead of a justice of the peace.

Source: thestar November 21, 2016 18:56 UTC