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Leadership Injunction

Judge to rule Wednesday on UCP leadership race investigation

Apr 2, 2019 | 8:35 AM

CALGARY – An Alberta judge is to decide later this week whether to grant an injunction that would postpone an investigation into the United Conservative Party’s leadership race.

A lawyer for several people involved in the 2017 leadership campaign for Jeff Callaway told court Monday that the current investigation by Alberta’s election commissioner is inappropriate.

Lawyer Ivan Bernardo says the commissioner is showing bias by continuing to pursue an investigation of a leadership campaign that occurred 18 months ago.

He wants the commissioner’s investigation paused until after the April 16 provincial election.

A lawyer for the commissioner says his job is non-partisan and the investigation has been underway since January.

The commissioner is investigating how Callaway’s campaign was funded.

Documents suggest Kenney’s team directed Callaway to attack and criticize Kenney’s main rival, Brian Jean, before dropping out and throwing his support to Kenney.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Anne Kirker says she will rule on the application Wednesday afternoon.

(The Canadian Press)