Advertisement

Ontario PC Party candidate in Brampton resigns amid allegations about ‘work life,’ nomination

File photo of Simmer Sandhu. Facebook
An Ontario election candidate running for the Progressive Conservatives in Brampton says he has resigned amid allegations involving his “work life and [his] nomination campaign.”

Simmer Sandhu, who was the PC Party candidate in Brampton East, confirmed the resignation in a written statement on Twitter Wednesday evening. He said the allegations, which weren’t specifically addressed in the statement, were “anonymously made against” him.

“These allegations are totally baseless. I absolutely deny them,” Sandhu wrote, while thanking supporters and volunteers for their work.

Story continues below advertisement

“I will vigorously defend myself and reputation and I am confident I will be cleared. However, I feel it is impossible for me to continue as PC candidate in Brampton East while doing so.”

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The Ontario PC Party issued a brief statement in response to the announcement said the party accepted his resignation

“In light of the investigation into Simmer Sandhu he felt it was necessary to stand down as a candidate,” the statement read.

Doug Ford, the party’s leader, later said in a statement on Twitter that he and the party’s president received the resignation earlier on Wednesday.

“We welcome Sudeep Verma as the new candidate for Brampton East and thank him for his leadership,” he wrote.

Story continues below advertisement

According to a statement posted by former Ontario PC Party Leader Patrick Brown on the party’s website, Sandhu was nominated as a candidate in December 2017.

In an archived version of Sandhu’s biography from his now-deleted campaign website, it said he worked for 407 ETR as a litigation analyst at the highway company’s headquarters for nine years. A spokesperson for the company told Global News Sandhu resigned “quite some time ago.”

The biography also said he has worked as a real estate agent and previously worked in an unspecified role for Elections Ontario.

— With files from Alan Carter

Sponsored content

AdChoices