Erskine-Smith files challenge over results of Scarborough Southwest provincial Liberal nomination meeting
By MATTHEW STEPHENS
Beaches-East York MP Nathaniel Erskine Smith is challenging last weekend’s 19-vote loss for Liberal candidacy to run in an upcoming provincial byelection in the Scarborough Southwest riding.
According to his three-page notice of appeal, Erskine-Smith cited a number of concerns with voting process during the Saturday, May 9, riding nomination meeting held at Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute.
The notice of appeal said that “a full investigation is essential” into what happened at the meeting.
“The fact that 34 more ballots were counted than there were recorded voters is sufficient, on its own, to set the result aside with a margin of victory of only 19 votes,” reads the appeal notice.
On Saturday, Erskine-Smith lost in a ranked ballot vote against businessman Ahsanul Hafiz, who secured a total of 718 votes. Voters had between 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. to cast their votes, which were fully counted and revealed by 6 p.m. Other candidates seeking the nomination at Saturday’s meeting were Qadira Jackson and Mahmuda Nasrin.
In a media scrum in the parking lot after the results were read, Erskine-Smith told reporters he needed to conduct a “full debrief” with his team before speaking about the outcome.
The notice of appeal also claimed that scrutineers witnessed people voting and then returning to credentials lines, entering the voting area through the exit, and “people without any credentials staying in the voting area after they had voted, or coming and going throughout the day.”
In a newsletter posted today, Erskine-Smith said his concerns with the party’s voting process highlights a compromise of integrity when it came to Saturday’s meeting.
“While it’s tough to lose a close one, it’s even more taxing on me to keep fighting. And I thought long and hard about letting it go because that would just be easier (for any future politics, for my own personal life, for my sanity, etc.),” said Erskine-Smith in his newsletter.
“But doing politics differently is why I left law in the first place, and honesty and integrity matter more than whatever might be easier for me personally.”
Erskine-Smith’s newsletter highlighted a number of issues he said were identified by his scrutineers, alleging that voters provided inappropriate identification, told other voters “explicitly what they should do,” and had been seen taking pictures of their ballots.
Erskine-Smith’s newsletter calls for an investigation and a new nomination meeting, noting that he will not run again if the party decides to re-elect a provincial candidate.
“It’s about the integrity of the process, not about me. And to make that as clear as possible, I will remove myself from any future process or consideration in Scarborough Southwest if it means the party will actually investigate and take action,” said the newsletter.
In a press release statement, the Ontario Liberal Party said Erskine-Smith’s appeal will be considered by the party’s arbitration committee.
“The appeal has been referred to the Party’s Arbitration Committee, which operates independently and in accordance with the Ontario Liberal Party Constitution and nomination rules. The committee is chaired by former Ontario cabinet minister David Zimmer,” said the Ontario Liberal Party press release.
Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser said the committee will review the appeal “carefully, fairly, and swiftly,” while keeping in line with the party’s rules and procedures.
Erskine-Smith’s newsletter asks that the party seek assistance from Elections Ontario for future nomination meetings, to “safeguard their integrity and restore basic trust.”
Erskine-Smith’s transition to provincial politics comes following former NDP MPP Doly Begum giving up her seat to run as Liberal MP for Scarborough Southwest in a federal byelection, which she won on April 13.
Despite Interim Liberal leader John Fraser’s belief of a “fair” voting process, Erskine-Smith argues the outcome questions “the integrity of our democratic process.”
“Yes, we need change across Ontario. We also need change in the Ontario Liberal Party,” said the closing remark in his newsletter. “We deserve truth and accountability.”
