Sarnia Courthouse (BlackburnNews.com File Photo)Sarnia Courthouse (BlackburnNews.com File Photo)
Sarnia

Lambton Shores election results facing legal challenge

A court application has been made to annul the municipal election results in Lambton Shores.

Eric Gillespie of Toronto, legal counsel for six applicants, said the challenge is based on numerous alleged contraventions of the Municipal Elections Act.

"Things like removing voters names, over a thousand of them, from the voters list without any proper explanation for that so far," said Gillespie. "Not giving notice to other voters and access to the voting system. Not allowing candidates to have scrutineers present at all times, at some of the locations where people were actually using computers to vote."

Gillespie said the applicants also allege that voter secrecy requirements were breached and there was a failure to investigate complaints.

Individually, he said the actions appear to be quite serious, while collectively, he adds, it's reasonable to say that none of the current council seats may be validly held.

"Our understanding right now, is that there may be proper grounds to say that the election should be annulled. In other words, the result shouldn't count and we should be having a new, properly conducted election," he said.

Gillespie has identified the applicants as Doug Bonesteel, James Finlay, Scott MacGregor, Gayle MacGregor, John Russell and Jordy Speake.

Bonesteel, Finlay, Russell and Speake were unsuccessful candidates in the October 22, 2018 municipal election, while Gayle and Scott MacGregor were voters.

The application will be heard at Sarnia Courthouse, in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, February 21.

Read More Local Stories