The Liberal party has made the decision to kick Ruby Dhalla out of the leadership race just days before the contestants were set to participate in two debates in Montreal. The party’s national director, Azam Ishmael, stated that this decision was made unanimously by the Liberal Leadership Vote Committee. The committee conducted a thorough investigation and found that Dhalla’s campaign had violated 10 national leadership rules, vote rules, and expense rules, including alleged violations of the Canada Elections Act, inaccurate financial reporting, and other election finance violations. Ishmael described the violations as extremely serious.
Following the announcement of her disqualification, Dhalla denied all the allegations, labeling them as fabricated, fictitious, and fake. She stated that she learned about her disqualification from a CBC report rather than from the party directly. Dhalla addressed the concerns raised by the party regarding some donations to her campaign, explaining that the issues raised were not significant. She clarified that certain donations that were made using a joint credit card by a couple were entirely legal, and she had already taken steps to rectify any issues regarding direct contributions to her campaign. Despite her rebuttal, the Liberal party stood by its decision, stating that the investigation into Dhalla’s campaign was thorough and included input from Dhalla herself.
Dhalla had already paid the full $350,000 entry fee to the party, $300,000 of which is non-refundable. With Dhalla out of the race, this narrows the field to four remaining candidates: former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, Montreal businessman Frank Baylis, and former Liberal House leader Karina Gould. These candidates are set to participate in a French language debate in Montreal on Monday, followed by an English language debate on Tuesday. The party’s next leader will be chosen on March 9, and the remaining candidates will continue their campaigns leading up to that date.
The decision to disqualify Dhalla from the leadership race comes after reports that the party had raised concerns about her campaign finances and possible allegations of foreign interference. The Liberal Leadership Vote Committee found that Dhalla’s campaign had violated several rules, leading to her removal from the race. Despite Dhalla’s denials and rebuttals, the party stood by its decision, stating that the violations were serious and warranted her disqualification.
Dhalla’s disqualification leaves four candidates in the running for the Liberal party leadership. These candidates, including prominent figures such as Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland, will continue with their campaigns and participate in upcoming debates. The selection of the party’s next leader is set for March 9, and the remaining candidates will have the opportunity to present their platforms and ideas to party members in the lead-up to the decision. Dhalla’s removal underscores the party’s commitment to upholding its rules and maintaining integrity in the leadership selection process.
