Wynne has issued a statement following the release of recorded conversations in which Olivier alleges the Liberals asked him to step aside in favor of their chosen candidate:
The tapes released today confirm what we have said all along.
The tape confirms that the Premier communicated to Andrew Olivier that he would not be the candidate, as per the Liberal Party Leader’s prerogative.
Pat Sorbara re-iterated the Premier’s decision and discussed ways Olivier could remain involved in the Party or in matters related to his own personal and stated interests, such as accessibility issues.
The tape confirms what Pat Sorbara said publicly last month – that any suggestion that anything was offered in exchange for any action is false. Olivier had already been informed that he would not be the candidate.
Pat Sorbara has been vindicated of the false allegations.
Gerry Lougheed is not Government or Liberal Party staff, he speaks for himself. What I can tell you is that the tapes confirm that Mr. Lougheed communicated to Olivier that he should speak to the Premier and that the Premier subsequently spoke with Andrew Olivier, informing him that he would not be the candidate.