With just over two weeks before the provincial election, the NDP is calling for the removal of the Liberal candidate in Chatham-Kent-Leamington amid allegations of fraudulent documentation.
The NDP made the accusations on Wednesday after reviewing registration information on the nomination papers filed by Liberal candidate Audrey Festeryga in the Chatham-Kent-Leamington riding.
“The Liberals appear to have instead submitted the original names, addresses and signatures collected by now-ditched candidate Alec Mazurek, and attached them to the nomination papers for Audrey Festeryga,” the NDP said in a statement.
Elections Ontario rules state that the 25 elector signatures needed to submit a nomination must be for the specified candidate.
Mazurek, who was the first Liberal candidate nominated to the riding, had his nomination terminated by his party on May 12, mere hours before the nomination deadline. The Liberal’s decision to turf Mazurek was made after the NDP revealed that he had posted homophobic slurs on Facebook eight years ago.
CKXS News has reviewed Festeryga’s nomination papers at the Elections Ontario returning office in Chatham and confirmed that her elector signatures are dated May 11, the day before Mazurek was removed as the Liberal candidate and Festeryga was named as his replacement. The signature documents were also signed and witnessed by Mazurek.
“[Liberal Leader] Steven Del Duca must be accountable for how he and the Liberals approved the use of apparently false or improper documentation to support Festeryga’s candidacy, apparently misleading Elections Ontario,” the NDP said. “Elections Ontario must immediately investigate the Liberal candidate’s compliance with election law, and if proven, must disqualify the Liberal candidate in the riding and ensure all voters are informed of the improper registration.”
The Elections Ontario returning officer would not allow photocopies or photos of the documents and would not provide Mazurek’s nomination forms to CKXS for comparison, citing privacy concerns.
CKXS News has reached out to Festeryga and the local Liberal riding association for comment on the allegations, however, a response was not received prior to publication.