Wynne's timeline in Sudbury byelection scandal called into question

Up North3:41MPP questions timeline of the Sudbury by-election

The NDP wanted to know why Wynne said that she made a decision to appoint Thibeault back in November, however the local riding association said that it wasn't notified of the appointment until January.

Ontario's opposition parties say a letter sent by Premier Kathleen Wynne to a Liberal riding association calls into question her timeline in a byelection scandal that has triggered a police investigation.

The Canadian Press has learned the premier provided written notice to the local Liberal riding association of her decision to appoint a Sudbury byelection candidate on Jan.7 well after she saidshe personally made the decision.

Wynne has said she decided to appoint former New Democrat MP Glenn Thibeault when they met in late November well before two Liberals, including her deputy chief of staff, had conversations with "failed candidate" Andrew Olivier in December.

The Ontario Provincial Police are investigating allegations of bribery and corruption after Olivier said he was offered a job or appointment to step aside.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath saidthe date of the letter calls into question the premier's statements that the Liberals had already decided on Thibeault and were just trying to keep Olivier involved in the party when they spoke to him in December.

The premier's office confirmedWynne sent the letter aboutThibeault's appointment the day the byelection was called Jan. 7, but did not address whether it was sent "as soon as possible," as per the Liberal Party's constitution.

Timeline of key dates in Liberal Sudbury byelection scandal:

Nov. 20: Sudbury New Democrat MPP Joe Cimino resigns after just five months on the job, citing "personal health and wellness."

Nov. 26: Sudbury Liberal riding association agrees to hold nomination meeting to select byelection candidate.

Nov. 30: Premier Kathleen Wynne meets with NDP MP Glenn Thibeault, who agrees to run for the provincial Liberals. Wynne has said she decided at that meeting to appoint him.

Dec. 11: Local Liberal and chair of the Sudbury police services board Gerry Lougheed visits Andrew Olivier, the Liberal candidate in the June provincial election who was seeking to run again. Lougheed asks Olivier to consider stepping aside and nominating Thibeault instead. Hetells Olivier "in the course of that deliberation" to consider "appointments, jobs, whatever."

Dec. 11: Wynne phones Olivier, who is quadriplegicand says he tapes conversations as his way of taking notes. He saidtechnical difficulties prevent him from recording that exchange.

Dec. 12: Pat Sorbara, Wynne's deputy chief of staff, phones Olivier and says Wynne is "going to have to make a decision around the appointment," later telling him they should chat about what he would be interested in doing, be it "appointments to boards or commissions," a constituency office job or role in the party executive.

Dec. 15: Olivier goes public with claims that Lougheed and Sorbara offered him a job or appointment to step aside; Progressive Conservatives ask Ontario Provincial Police to investigate; New Democrats ask Elections Ontario to investigate.

Dec. 16: Thibeault publicly announces he will be the Ontario Liberals' byelection candidate for Sudbury.

Jan. 7: Wynne calls Sudbury byelection for Feb. 5; sends letter to riding association president and nomination commissioner informing them of Thibeault's appointment.

Jan. 12: OPP conclude no criminal offence was committed by the Liberals.

Jan. 15: Olivier releases audio of his conversations with Lougheed and Sorbara; Progressive Conservatives ask OPP to reopen the investigation.

Feb. 5: Thibeault wins Sudbury byelection; in a court document filed in order to get Olivier's original recordings, police say they have "grounds to believe" a criminal offence was committed. The investigation is ongoing.

Feb. 19: Elections Ontario makes "unprecedented finding" that Lougheed and Sorbara's actions were in "apparent contravention" of the Election Act; matter is referred to OPP and federal Crown.