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After levying the accusations at the two Liberal organizers, Olivier got a call from the Ontario Provincial Police. They wanted the tapes.On the advice of his lawyer, Olivier asked that they issue a summons for the material. They refused and closed the investigation.That's pretty exceptional, as the charges they're investigating are not small affairs. The Criminal Code makes it illegal for public office holders to horse trade an office under their purview in exchange for some political benefit. Penalties include jail time.After the OPP walked away, Olivier told VICE, he was frustrated."It's hard to go outside when people think you lied," he said. "When people think you cried wolf."Olivier eventually got the summons he was asking for, not from the OPP but from Elections Ontario. The Elections Act states clearly that it's illegal to "give, procure or promise or agree to procure an office or employment to induce a person to become a candidate, refrain from becoming a candidate or withdraw his or her candidacy."Olivier coughed up all three tapes. Then he posted two of them to YouTube.In the maelstrom of scrutiny, the OPP re-opened its investigation. Wynne will also be meeting with Elections Ontario this week.Wynne's office has been categorical in arguing that "any suggestion that anything was offered in exchange for any action is false." Olivier was already told he would not be the candidate, her office contends, and therefore there couldn't possibly be bought off. The office also rightly pointed out that Lougheed has no formal job with the party.
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The Ontario Liberal Party is certainly not the first provincial government to employ patronage as a means to an end.Indeed, a VICE analysis of information from the Ontario Public Appointments Secretariat reveals that there is more than one patronage job on the provinces' various commissions and boards.Both Gerry Lougheed and his partner, Louise Paquette, have received jobs from the province.Lougheed sits on the Sudbury Police Services Board, thanks to an appointment from the Premier, while Paquette is the Executive Director of a regional health board with the provincially-appointed board members hiring Paquette.Several other Liberal-involved Ontarians also have jobs thanks to Wynne.Gurjit Sidhu, a federal Liberal riding president and nomination candidate, sits on the Citizens' Council. Sandra Pupatello, who also ran for the Liberal leadership, got a job on the board of Hydro One. Vito Sgro, a riding president and organizer of Wynne's leadership bid, is on the board of Infrastructure Ontario. Christopher Hoffman, whose $7,500 donation makes him the third-largest individual donor to Wynne's leadership campaign, was appointed by Wynne to Toronto's health board.Each of those jobs comes with considerable financial incentive: per diems ranging from $200 to $500.There are dozens of other Liberal donors who show up on the various boards and commissions that fall under Wynne's purview.Follow Justin Ling on Twitter.