Federal Conservatives say they won't let Doug Currie run again in Charlottetown

The Conservative Party of Canada says it will not allow former P.E.I. cabinet minister Doug Currie to run for the party's nomination in Charlottetown, citing what the party calls "serious misrepresentations and violations" of its rules.

In an emailed statement to CBC News on Friday, the CPC said Currie had provided "contradictory answers" on his nomination application, that it had found "troubling evidence of inappropriate behaviour," and that Currie did not disclose an ongoing lawsuit.

That lawsuit, filed in P.E.I. Supreme Court, was brought against Currie by a woman with whom he was previously in a relationship and seeks a share of proceeds from the potential sale of a property in Stanhope.

The Conservative Party also said it found "offensive text messages and inappropriate interactions with people in the community," and said when given a chance to address the matter privately, Currie "neither denied these issues nor provided satisfactory responses."

CBC News has not independently verified the claims made by the Conservatives. The party did not provide details or further information regarding the accusations.

When contacted by CBC News Friday, Currie said he'd been advised by the party two days before that "my nomination was disallowed without any evidence or explanation."

He said the first explanation he received for why he was disqualified was when CBC shared details with him from the statement received by the party.

He said he has appealed the party's decision, and is "disappointed that comments were made before the appeal was heard."

Ultimately the party is able to decide who can represent it in the riding, no matter what might be the outcome of any appeal.

Currie did not agree to a request for an interview.

Retired to focus on nomination

"My intention is to let the appeal process play out according to their rules for nominations and candidates.— Doug Currie

Currie was a Liberal provincial cabinet minister for a decade, but switched over to the federal Conservatives to run as the party's candidate in Charlottetown in 2021.

Last month he announced he was retiring from his position as vice president of corporate and strategic development at Holland College in order to "focus full-time" on seeking the Conservative nomination.

The party has selected its candidates in the other three ridings in P.E.I. but still has not announced a date for the Charlottetown nomination meeting. The deadline for candidates to sell party memberships fell a week ago.

Besides Currie there are two other candidates in the race: current provincial MLA and former PC cabinet minister Natalie Jameson, as well as local lawyer Catherine Parkman.