Ontario PC’s to hold New Nomination Meetings in Two Ridings

By: Laura Steiner

The Nominations committee of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (PCPO) has called for new nomination meetings in the ridings of Scarborough Centre, and Ottawa West-Nepean.  The  unanimous decision was announced in a statement from the Nomination Committee Co-Chair Ken Zeise.

They are two of the ridings where alleged improprieties took place.  The Scarborough Centre nomination meeting took place June 26, 2017.  Media reports say police were called after the meeting grew overcrowded.    Questions have arisen over the qualifications of the voters.  The candidate of record was Thenusha Parani.

The contest in Ottawa-West Nepean was dogged by allegations of ballot-box stuffing.  The party’s entire riding association resigned in protest.  The candidate was Karma Macgregor prior to the nomination being overturned.  According to the Toronto Star the pair released a joint statement calling the allegations false.  “What’s more, we have not been asked for or provided an opportunity to provide our perspective,” they said.

The party’s nomination process has been the subject of controversy.    In the Hamilton West Ancaster-Dundas riding, the nomination is the subject of a criminal investigation.   Interim Leader Vic Fedeli has revealed Brown may have inflated the membership numbers by as many as 70,000.

The PC’s have called a leadership convention for March 10, following the resignation of Patrick Brown.  Brown stepped aside following sexual misconduct allegations.