Complaint about candidate’s two-minute head start dismissed
NDP says Liberals got unfair byelection campaign boost in Scarborough—Rouge River
The Wynne government is brushing aside an NDP complaint to Elections Ontario that the Liberal candidate in Scarborough—Rouge River got an “unfair” head start in the Sept. 1 byelection campaign.
At issue is a press release issued by the Liberals trumpeting their local campaign two minutes before an Elections Ontario press release announced the voting date on Wednes- day morning.
“It’s regrettable that happens, but let’s keep this in context; we’re talking about two minutes,” Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid said Friday.
But New Democrats said the quick timing suggests “collusion” between Premier Kathleen Wynne’s office and the campaign of Liberal candi- date Piragal Thiru, which had a press release ready to go.
That raises questions about how much advance notice the Liberal candidate got.
“This undermines Ontarians’ faith that elections are being conducted fairly,” NDP House Leader Gilles Bisson wrote in a letter requesting an investigation by chief electoral officer Greg Essensa.
Oddly, the press release from Thiru’s office did not include the byelection date, leaving reporters scrambling to confirm when the vote would be held.
Duguid said the Liberal party regrets that its press release went out early but said it was simply a case of “somebody on a local election campaign having a quicker finger to the send button.”
He noted that all the major parties have nominated candidates in the riding since veteran Liberal MPP Bas Balkissoon resigned without explanation in March and that it’s the premier’s decision on when to call a byelection.
“There was an expectation . . . that it would likely be called before the legislature resumes” on Sept. 12, Duguid added. “All three parties have been out and there may be other parties involved out there, too, that have been out campaigning already.
“I don’t think it’s a surprise to anybody. Nor was it a competitive advantage to get our press release out two minutes before the government release.”
Progressive Conservative MPP Monte McNaughton insisted Duguid should be taking the issue more seriously, saying, “It’s irresponsible of him to be so dismissive.”
Elections Ontario said it doesn’t comment on complaints or investigations.
The Conservatives are running veteran city Councillor Raymond Cho in the riding. Toronto District School Board trustee Neethan Shan is carrying the NDP banner.