NDP accused Liberal candidate of bribe

The New Democratic Party has just issued a press release saying that the NDP candidate in the British Columbia riding of Abbotsbord, Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson (left), was offered a bribe by the Liberal candidate in that riding to withdraw from the race.

I have asked the Liberal War Room to respond to this accusation but, at 12:49 pm, do not yet have anything. I will post something as soon as I have it.

This is the riding that was held by Conservative Randy White. White is retiring and is not running for re-election.

Thank you to all who sent in links to the sworn affidavit.

Here is an excerpt from that affidavit written by NDP candidate Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson and filed with Elections Canada. Hansen-Carlson is describing a meeting he had with Abbotsford Liberal candidate Dave Oliver (pictured left) and Gordy (possibly Gurdip) Kahlon, the Liberal campaign manager.

The meeting was a private one held at the Liberal candidate’s office:

“I was shocked when Mr. Khalon spoke, “I hear you have civic aspirations?” Immediately I knew the meeting was set up to bribe me, but for what I was not sure. In the November 2005 Local General Election I ran for Abbotsford City Council, unsuccessfully.

As the conversation progressed I gathered from Mr. Oliver and Mr. Khalon that they felt the race was so tight between the Liberals and Conservatives in Abbotsford that if the Liberals could some how gain a couple thousand NDP votes they would win the riding.

They requested from me a statement to the press, to my supporters and volunteer, which would be a directive to support the Liberals out of fear of what the Conservatives will do to our community and our country, based on the assumption that the NDP is not a big player in this riding.

If I was to sell out the NDP they guaranteed me a win in the next local general election and they also said a job in Ottawa would be waiting for me if Mr. Oliver did in fact win the riding. They also discussed that I would be a “hero”, that the option to join the Liberal Party would always be there, and that they would be prepared to bill this political move as being my own, to net me even more respect from within the Liberal ranks.”

The complete affidavit is online at: http://www.ccnmatthews.com/docs/npdstat.pdf

Here is the NDP press release:

NDP Files Complaint With Elections Canada: Abbotsford BC Liberal Candidate
Alleged to Have Offered Bribe to NDP Candidate

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(CCNMatthews – Jan. 13, 2006) – The NDP has written to
Elections Canada requesting an investigation into allegations that the Liberal
candidate in Abbotsford, B.C., offered the NDP candidate in that riding a bribe
in exchange for dropping out of the race, NDP Federal Secretary Eric Hebert
said today.

The NDP candidate, Jeffery Hansen – Carlson, submitted a notarized statement
federal NDP headquarters that outlines a meeting he had with the Liberal
candidate and campaign manager on the evening of January 10. That sworn
statement is attached, along with a copy of Hebert's letter.

“Mr. Hansen-Carlson's statement contains troubling information about Liberal
Party actions that we believe to be contrary to the Canada Elections Act, and
we had a responsibility to the voters in Abbotsford-and, indeed, voters
throughout the country-to formally ask Elections Canada to investigate,” said
Hebert.

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

OTTAWA
January 12, 2006

Mr. Raymond Lavigne
Commissioner for Elections Canada
257 Slater St.
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0M6

Mr. Lavigne,

It has just been brought to my attention that on the evening of
January 10th, 2005 the Liberal campaign in Abbotsford requested a
meeting with our candidate in that electoral district.

Please find attached a notarized statement by our candidate Jeffrey
Hansen-Carlson of the events that took place. At this meeting a
proposal was made which appears to be in contravention of section 481
(1) of the Election Act

481. (1) Every person is guilty of an offence who, during an
election period, directly or indirectly offers a bribe to
influence an elector to vote or refrain from voting or to vote or
refrain from voting for a particular candidate.

This allegation is a very serious matter, and questions the integrity
of the Liberal campaign and could involve a serious breach of the Act
governing the electoral process in Canada. I urge you to investigate
this matter as soon as possible.

If I can be of any assistance in these matters, please do not
hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely yours,

Eric Hebert
Federal Secretary, New Democratic Party of Canada