Elections Ontario is reportedly investigating alleged fraud in the riding of Chatham-Kent-Leamington (CKL).
The NDP reported this weekend that it has received a letter from Elections Ontario that confirms an investigation is underway into allegations of signature fraud surrounding the nomination of CKL Liberal candidate Audrey Festeryga. It's alleged signatures that were collected for the nomination of former Liberal candidate Alec Mazurek were used again in Festeryga's nomination papers.
A man from Chatham sounded the alarm last week when he claimed his signature was improperly used to register Festeryga.
Mike Brown has since reached out to CK News Today, saying this entire ordeal has left a "bad taste in his mouth." Brown said he dislikes the tactics being used and wishes someone had called him first before using his signature.
Brown said he is a "life-long Liberal" but feels he’s been "taken advantage of" and is now considering switching his vote to a different party.
Brown is adamant that he did not sign nomination papers for Festeryga, who became the new riding candidate after Mazurek was turfed by the Ontario Liberals on May 12 for making homophobic comments on social media in 2014. Brown said that he has never heard of Festeryga or met her.
The NDP said this isn't partisan bickering.
"If true, this is a law and I think the Liberals need to give a more convincing answer for this behaviour," said the NDP in a statement.
The party said this demonstrates a lack of care for the people of the riding, and that is unacceptable.
After visiting the Elections Ontario office in Chatham, CK News Today has confirmed the signatures on the forms are dated May 11, 2022, a day before the Liberals tried to nominate Festeryga.
The New Democrats want Festeryga disqualified from the race, and prosecuted for submitting false or misleading information to a Returning Officer.
Ontario Liberal Party Press Secretary Andrea Ernesaks previously said “we are confident the nomination of our candidate Audrey Festeryga is perfectly valid.”
Elections Ontario said it does not comment on whether or not it has received a complaint or whether or not it is investigating a matter.