B.C. Conservatives Seek Election Review, Allege Voting Irregularities and Coercion in Care Home

B.C. Conservatives Seek Independent Review of Election, Allege Voting Irregularities

John Rustad, leader of the B.C. Conservatives, is calling for an independent review of the recent provincial election, citing concerns about voting irregularities and the potential for non-Canadian citizens casting ballots.

While Rustad did not provide specific evidence of non-Canadian voting, he argued that the facts are difficult to establish. He proposed a commission of inquiry led by a Supreme Court judge to investigate these allegations and examine whether changes to the Elections Act in 2019 made voting too accessible.

The Conservatives' main allegation revolves around a care home in Surrey-Guilford, where residents reportedly claimed they were pressured to vote. Defeated Tory candidate Honveer Randhawa will file a court application to overturn the results in this riding, where he lost by a narrow margin.

Randhawa's complaint focuses on 21 residents of Argyll Lodge who voted by mail despite the facility's proximity to a polling station. The Conservatives presented affidavits from two residents alleging staff coercion, though the names were redacted.

However, care home staff denied any involvement in the voting process. Baljit Kandola, head nurse and manager, stated that Elections BC provided mail-in ballots and staff only assisted with addressing the outer envelopes. Kathy Oo, the activities director, confirmed providing residents with voting packages and assisting with sealing the envelopes.

Terry Lake, CEO of the BC Care Providers Association, emphasized that care homes routinely facilitate resident participation in elections and expressed confidence in Elections BC's procedures to prevent coercion.

Chief Electoral Officer Anton Boegman affirmed Elections BC's commitment to investigating the Conservatives' complaints and cooperating with any public inquiry. He expressed confidence in the election's administration and the integrity of British Columbia's voting process.

B.C. Attorney-General Niki Sharma reiterated the government's commitment to an all-party legislative committee review of the election. She believes this approach will provide a platform for all parties to raise concerns and propose improvements.