NDP asked to look into Calgary nomination

Disillusioned EDMONTON New Democrats in Calgary are threatening to quit the party if it doesn’t investigate what they say are problems that happened in a nomination race.

Inderpreet Gill says he’s disappointed in the lack of concern NDP brass is showing over what he says were multiple instances of people providing false addresses during the CalgaryNorth East nomination vote.

He’s also disappointed in Premier Rachel Notley.

This weekend, Gill and a group of other New Democrats will hold a Rights for Democracy meeting in Calgary to discuss their concerns and figure out their next steps.

Almost 140 members of the NDP signed a petition calling for an investigation in Calgary-North East, to no avail. Gill also lodged a complaint with the Election Commissioner, but was told Thursday it fell outside the jurisdiction of that office.

Notley said Thursday she hopes Gill and others don’t cut ties with the NDP.

“I’m sorry they feel that way, but ... we can’t hold the whole (nomination) over,” she told reporters in Edmonton, adding her party followed Elections Alberta identification rules for the vote.

“Party officials have looked at it and concluded there’s not enough there to demonstrate the concerns suggested,” she said.

Gill supported defeated candidate Roop Rai in the nomination race, but said his concerns aren’t a case of sour grapes.

“All we’re asking is for (the party) to investigate ... the whole process,” he said.

“I’m objecting to someone living in the southeast coming and voting in my riding and affecting the outcome.”

Rai lost the nomination by 178 votes. She said she’s not questioning the outcome or blaming the other candidate, just the voter identification process.

“We’re not asking to disqualify the candidate or nullify the nomination. Let’s figure out why and how this is happening so it doesn’t happen again,” she said.

If the party ignores it, she said, elections run the risk of being hijacked.

“It makes a mockery of the entire system,” Rai said.

“I think the premier and party need to do the right thing. I support the party because I believe it’s a party with integrity … but here and now it’s time for them to step up.”