Ballot box stuffing in PC nomination battle?

Hamilton police are looking into a complaint about a Progressive Conservative nomination meeting marred by allegations of ballot box stuffing. However, it is still unclear whether the police will launch investigation or not.

Ben Levitt won the Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas nomination meeting in May, but it was challenged by two would-be candidates — Vikram Singh and Jeff Peller. Both have asked the court for a judicial review. As per reports, both Singh and Peller allege that the process was tainted by fraud and say the result should be overturned.

The allegations in Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas are among several Progressive Conservative nomination results being questioned by party members.

In response, party leader Patrick Brown brought in PricewaterhouseCoopers auditors to oversee party nominations.The Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas nomination has been marred with scandal since the nomination meeting May 7. 

Singh and Peller asked the party to review the nomination. Then on June 3, Brown dismissed the complaints by certifying all 64 candidates who had won local races so far.Singh’s court filing alleges Brown encouraged him to run, and even strategized with him and attended a party fundraiser at his parents’ home in December.