Manitoba Tories file complaint against NDP in Point Douglas race
NDP spokesperson says members have been told to follow the rules
Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives are accusing the Opposition New Democrats of breaking election rules that ban political activities at polling stations.
The Tories have filed a complaint with the returning office in Point Douglas — a Winnipeg seat where advance polls are underway for a byelection on Tuesday.
The Tories say NDP candidate Bernadette Smith has taken photographs of herself with voters in front of the polling station and posted them on social media.
They also allege NDP legislature members have been spending a lot of time around one polling station and on a balcony that overlooks it.
1/ The NDP is again loitering outside a Point Douglas polling station. And they're even tweeting about it themselves this time. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mbpoli?src=hash">#mbpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/jJYW5TRdYR">pic.twitter.com/jJYW5TRdYR</a>
—@BRinYWGThe Tory complaint says it's troubling that NDP members appear to be engaging voters so close to advanced polling stations.
"We would ask that when these activities are brought to the attention of the (returning officer), they should cease," says a letter to the returning officer for the constituency.
George Orle, legal counsel to PC Point Douglas constituency, said the rules are put in the act so the election is fair and nobody takes advantage of their position.
"When NDP staffers, personnel and politicians, people from the party, start going in and completely disregarding what they're supposed to be doing under the Elections Act, it makes us feel concerned that they have a total disregard for what the act requires," he said.
"And that they may continue to do that and do it even further when election day comes up."
A spokesman for the NDP called the complaint an act of desperation without any merit.
"The PC complaint is full of baseless allegations that are intended to smear," Matt Austman wrote in an email Thursday.
He said the Tories should take a look at their own actions because they have a campaign office very close to one polling station. The Tories said the office is more than the required 50 metres away.
The byelection is being held to replace former New Democrat Kevin Chief, who resigned in January. Point Douglas is a longtime NDP stronghold, and gave the party its highest vote percentage in last year's general election.
with files from CBC News