Rejected candidate leaks texts from PCs

CALGARY — The Progressive Conservative party had their dirty laundry aired a week before the provincial election, with accusations and counter-claims flying among a blocked candidate, the party’s executive director and a former cabinet minister Tuesday.

Texts released by Jamie Lall — who in March was barred by the Tory’s nominating committee from running in Chestermere-Rocky View — suggested the party had been trying to push him out of the nomination race well before then.

Lall, now running as an Independent, was subject to a restraining order from an ex-girlfriend in 2007, which the party said Tuesday was the reason for his disqualification.

Tory Leader Jim Prentice insisted the party acted properly.

Former Wildrose MLA Bruce McAllister was acclaimed as the riding’s PC candidate.

Lall, 30, confirmed the order was put in place, but said he is now close friends with the woman and that she spoke to the PC party’s private investigator about it earlier this year.

Lall insists he not only disclosed the order during the party’s vetting process this year, but also when he was appointed the PC candidate in Calgary-Buffalo in 2012, where he lost to Liberal Kent Hehr.

But PC party executive director Kelley Charlebois said the restraining order was at the root of the party’s rejection of Lall, asserting that the would-be candidate had not revealed it to the party during its review process.

Texts released by Lall indicate he had earlier discussions with the PC executive director about withdrawing from the race.

On Jan. 31, Charlebois texted Lall, saying: “We need to chat ... don’t want you in Chestermere.”

In Feb. 17 texts, Lall complained about being undercut, writing that his supporters had been told “a vote for me is a vote against the party.”

“It is dirty ... I think it has more to do with the person you are running against then (sic) you,” Charlebois replied.

On Tuesday, Charlebois said the PC party was trying to discourage challenges against all incumbents — not just McAllister — because the spring election was imminent.

Lall also released texts between himself and then justice minister Jonathan Denis, who was his friend. “Buddy you are being set up,” Denis wrote. “They’re playing you for a dumb kid.”

Denis declined to comment Tuesday.