Calgary MP George Chahal receives $500 fine for removing opponent's flyer
Calgary Skyview Liberal MP George Chahal has been found to have been in breach of the elections act after he received a $500 penalty from the Office of the Commissioner for Canada Elections (OCCE).
An investigation was launched following the removal of a campaign pamphlet of incumbent Conservative Jag Sahota, Chahal’s opponent,from outside a constituent's home.
Doorbell camera footage surfaced showing Chahal taking the flyer from a home in the northeast neighbourhood of Temple on Sept. 19, 2021, and replacing it with one of his own.
The document left behind included incorrect polling station information. The homeowners had a lawn sign supporting Chahal's conservative opponent.
The OCCE said in a report that “George Chahal admitted to OCCE investigators that he removed the other candidate's campaign flyer.”
It went on to say that he was in “violation of subsection 325(1) of the Act, the prohibition against preventing or impairing the transmission of an election advertising message without the consent of a person with authority to authorize its transmission.
Chahal added that he remains "committed to putting the interests of my constituents first, through all my activities and interactions.
He told CTV News that he hopes to move on from the incident.
“I have nothing to hide and I fully cooperated with the folks doing the review of this matter and I acknowledged it immediately,” said Chahal.
RELATIVELY MINOR INCIDENT
One political scientist at Mount Royal University said the fine amount speaks volumes about how this incident was relatively minor.
“Given that the fine could have been up to $5,000 and time in jail this is clearly at the lower end of the spectrum of penalties,” said Lori Williams.
“That being the case I think (it) sends a signal that this is not being seen as a serious threat to democratic integrity.”
Sahota did not accept CTV's interview request, but her lawyer Kyle Shewchuk did say they welcome the fine.
“But this does not resolve the matter,” he said.
“Voters need to know if theft of campaign literature was a widespread activity and whether a different election result would have otherwise occurred.”
Shewchuk said they will continue with a court application hoping to quash the election results.
“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to tell Calgary-Skyview voters what he is prepared to do about this clear violation from a member of his caucus,” said Shewchuk.
Chahal announced on social media Tuesday morning that he had been penalized and had paid the fine.
Chahal added that he remains "committed to putting the interests of my constituents first, through all my activities and interactions."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.