NDP Contender Considers Legal Action to Invalidate Adam Giambrone’s Nomination in Scarborough-Guildwood

Amarjeet Chhabra says she lost by four votes, and believes a dozen voters were ineligible.

By Desmond Cole

Adam Giambrone and Amarjeet Chhabra at a recent NDP dinner. Photo courtesy of the Scarborough Rouge River ONDP Riding Association

Amarjeet Kaur Chhabra, who lost a reportedly close NDP nomination race to Adam Giambrone in the riding of Scarborough-Guildwood, wants to know why 12 of the 32 voters in that nomination contest were not on party membership lists. Chhabra says she will take legal action to have the nomination process invalidated if she does not receive a response from the Ontario NDP by noon today.

In a letter sent Monday, Chhabra’s lawyer Paul-Erik Veel asks that the Ontario NDP immediately verify the eligibility of the voters in question. If the party cannot provide verification, Veel says Chhabra will pursue legal action, including “an urgent order invalidating the results of the Nomination Meeting and requiring such a meeting to be held again prior to the by-election.”

However, under Elections Ontario rules, today is the last day for a candidate to get on the ballot.

NDP Riding Association Questions Eligibility of Voters in Scarborough-Guildwood Nomination

Chhabra’s letter states that she lost the nomination to Giambrone by a vote of 18-14; NDP officials traditionally inform the candidates of the final vote count, but do not publicize it. When asked Wednesday by a National Post reporter, ONDP spokesman Michael Rosenstock refused to verify that the voters in question lived in the riding and had been members for 30 days, as ONDP rules say they must be in order to participate in a nomination vote.

The full letter to the ONDP (members of the press received copies of the letter with the names of the voters in question redacted):

Letter to Lawson July 17, 2013 Redacted by Torontoist