Hamilton police investigating Ontario PC nomination battle

Hamilton police are investigating a Progressive Conservative nomination meeting marred by allegations of ballot box stuffing.

Ben Levitt won the Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas nomination meeting in May, but it was challenged by two would-be candidates.

They allege the process was tainted by fraud and say the result should be overturned.

COMMENTARY: Forget electoral reform, fix the nomination process

The allegations in Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas are among several Progressive Conservative nomination results being questioned by party members.

In response, party leader Patrick Brown brought in PricewaterhouseCoopers auditors to oversee party nominations.

Hamilton police say a complaint was made to them in May about the Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas meeting and they are now deciding how the investigation should continue and “what our status is here as a municipal police service.”

Brown’s office had no comment about the investigation.

A McMaster Political Science Professor says this kind of thing is “bad for democracy and bad for the P.C.’s.”

Henry Jacek says this may have an impact on next year’s provincial election.

He says “if people see that the party can’t manage its own nominations and there’s police involvement, it casts doubt whether that party can govern.”

Jacek also says it turns people off politics because “it makes them think all politicians are cheats.”