The mayor of Ottawa said an investigation into his campaign activities has gone on long enough and demanded that police either charge him or clear him of the accusation.
"I would like to call for this investigation to either end or to be handed over to the courts where witnesses will have to testify under oath about their statements," Larry O'Brien announced in council Friday.
"I cannot and will not sit on the sidelines any further while my reputation is being attacked."
The Ontario Provincial Police is investigating claims that O'Brien's campaign tried to offer Terry Kilrea a job in return for dropping out of the Ottawa mayoral race in 2006.
Kilrea, a well-known candidate, alleges he was offered $30,000 and a possible appointment with the National Parole Board if he quit his campaign.
The OPP revealed in March that it was investigating the bribery claims, but no charges have been laid.
O'Bried flatly denies the accusation, as well as a claim he discussed the offer with federal Conservative cabinet minister John Baird.
"The OPP investigation has been made very difficult as rumours, sensationalized headlines and innuendo have become blurred with the fact," said O'Brien.
Some councillors say that the allegations, which continue to hang over the mayor's head, have begun to impact their ability to govern the city.
"From the city perspective, we all feel that this has gone on a long time and it does affect all of us around the council table, and affects our citizens as well," Councillor Diane Deans said.
Councillor Rick Chiarelli said the accusations have affected the city's business, but says the mayor can't simply wish the problem away.
"He's not the person who can take the elephant out of the room. I think it will stay in the room until a decision is made one way or another," he told reporters Friday.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Norman Fetterley
