Losing UCP candidates claim fraud, seek probe

The UCP should investigate and nullify a deeply fraudulent nomination in the Calgary-East riding, losing candidates say in a letter to the party.

Peter Singh won the vote Nov. 3 on the first ballot, but did so through fraud, bribery, forgery and improper inducement, claims a Nov. 30 letter sent to party Leader Jason Kenney and Chestermere-Rockyview MLA Leela Aheer.

Singh denies the allegations, calling them a result of sore losers in the contest.

“There are numerous documented accounts of Mr. Singh visiting members’ homes and offering gifts and/or money in exchange for votes both prior to and on the day of the nomination vote,” states the letter obtained by Postmedia and signed by candidates Andre Chabot, Jamie Lall, Issa Moussa and Matthew Dirk.

Sworn affidavits from two people claiming they were offered $75 to $100 or other gifts are included in the 11-page letter.

The former candidates say their efforts to have the party address the issues have been frustrated.

“It is only a matter of time before the media or the NDP use this information against us. Having exhausted every avenue available to resolve this issue internally, members at the grassroots level have clearly stated they intend on lodging formal complaints with the Alberta Elections Commission,” said the four candidates.

The letter also accuses Singh’s campaign of using a customer list from the auto repair shop he owns to sign up people for party memberships without their consent, and that identities were forged.

Former city councillor Andre Chabot said during the campaign he encountered constituents who were surprised to have been signed up by Singh’s campaign.

“I certainly did hear from a lot of people while phone-calling and door-knocking who were surprised, saying ‘I don’t have a membership in the UCP,’ ” he said.

The letter lists nearly 130 people it says were either offered gifts from Singh’s campaign or received them.

The candidates contend the actions violate the province’s Elections Act as well as UCP rules.

Deborah Wiebe said she was solicited by Singh at his auto shop while getting her vehicle repaired last July, and soon after discovered her credit card number had been used to purchase a party membership. The charge was later credited back to her.

At nearly the same time, the woman said she received an email from the UCP confirming she was a party member, something she hadn’t sought.

Singh, who ran unsuccessfully for the PC nomination in CalgaryFort before the 2015 provincial election, denied any improprieties, calling the accusations sour grapes.

“None of this occurred …. sometimes people lose elections and make up stories,” he said. “They want to blame somebody else — it doesn’t add up.”

Wednesday was the first time he’d heard any concerns about his campaign’s conduct, said Singh.

A UCP spokesperson didn’t have immediate comment on the allegations but said if they are true, they would violate party rules.

A staffer with the Office of the Election Commissioner said the body doesn’t reveal what complaints have been filed with it.