Two Ontario Liberal party officials have pleaded not guilty to bribery charges, laid under the Election Act, stemming from the 2015 Sudbury by-election.

(Twitter / Sudbury Police Services Board)

Former Ontario Liberal CEO Pat Sorbara and local Liberal fundraiser Gerry Lougheed are accused of offering would-be candidate Andrew Olivier a job or appointment, to get him to step aside for the premier’s preferred candidate, then NDP MP Glenn Thibeault, who won the by-election and is now energy minister.

The trial in Sudbury has been told Thibeault asked for paid jobs for constituency office staffers in exchange for running for the Liberals.

The Crown said in its opening statement that Thibeault also wanted income replacement for himself and full support of the Ontario Liberals.

Thibeault, who’s not charged, has previously denied seeking anything that would be considered as a bribe in exchange for running.

(Gino Donato / The Sudbury Star)

Premier Kathleen Wynne is set to testify next Wednesday.