ELECTIONS ALBERTA BANS MANDEL

Alberta Party leader accused of failing to file financial papers on time

Alberta Party Leader Stephen Mandel is ineligible to run for election until 2023, but he says he will take the matter to court.

Mandel, who plans to run in Edmonton-McClung, is listed on the Elections Alberta website as being ineligible to run in an election for five years.

The list generally includes candidates who have failed to file their financial statements on time, said Elections Alberta spokesman Drew Westwater.

Mandel and five other Alberta Party candidates who are listed as ineligible can go to court and ask for a waiver, he added.

“While this is concerning, we also believe there is confusion about the actual due dates this paperwork is due to Elections Alberta. Because the penalties for late filing are so serious, we have also applied to the Court of Queen’s Bench to review and rule on this matter as soon as possible,” said Mandel in a statement Friday.

Alberta Party candidates Ali Haymour, Diana Ly, Amrit Matharu, Moe Rahall and Rachel Timmermans also each face a five-year ban.

Letters were sent in advance telling candidates the deadline to file, Westwater said.

“They get 10 days grace in the legislation after that date to file.”

Elections Alberta then had to file a report with the Speaker naming the candidates and outlining the penalties.

“In Mr. Mandel’s case, he did file it but he filed it late, so it’s a fiveyear penalty,” Westwater said.

If financial statements aren’t filed at all, the penalty increases to eight years.

“Based on our interpretation of a July 2018 letter we received from Elections Alberta, we believe we have filed within the required deadline,” Mandel said.

Mandel plans to hold a news conference at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Premier Rachel Notley has yet to call a provincial election. According to the province’s fixed-date election rules, she could drop the writ for a 28-day campaign anytime between now and early May.