Three Alberta Party candidates win appeal of their 5-year ban on running

*EDITOR’S NOTE: On March 7, an Alberta Party spokesperson confirmed Amrit Matharu had been cleared by Elections Alberta and will run in Edmonton-Meadows.

Three Alberta Party candidates have been cleared to run in this spring’s provincial election, after a Court of Queen’s Bench judge overturned a five-year ban imposed by Elections Alberta.

Rachel Timmermans, candidate in Calgary-Lougheed; Tim Meech, candidate in Calgary Livingstone Macleod; and Ali Haymour, candidate in Edmonton-Decore, are now able to run for office, a news release from the party said.

READ MORE: Alberta Party candidate for Livingstone-Macleod banned from running in elections for 5 years

“These decisions reinforce the importance of having a democratic process that’s open, fair and accessible,” Alberta Party leader Stephen Mandel said.

“All Albertans deserve the opportunity to step forward to represent their communities and voters deserve a choice.”

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Earlier this month, Elections Alberta ruled seven Alberta Party candidates were ineligible to run for five years after being late to file financial statements from their nomination contests last year.

READ MORE: Elections Alberta gives Alberta Party leader 5-year-ban from running as candidate, Mandel plans appeal

Mandel is one of those seven, and is still waiting to find out if his ban will be overturned. Currently, Mandel is not eligible to run as a candidate until Sept. 27, 2023.

He was in court last Friday to have his ban overturned. Justice Gaylene Kendell said she would make her decision before the end of this week.

READ MORE: Judge reserves decision on Alberta Party leader Stephen Mandel’s candidacy ban

Elections Alberta deputy chief electoral officer Drew Westwater said candidates have four months from the time they’re nominated to file financial campaign returns.

Mandel, who secured the Alberta Party’s nomination to be the candidate in Edmonton-McClung on May 12, 2018, missed that deadline.

The Alberta Party leader said his chief financial officer missed the deadline because of an illness.

Mandel also claimed the documents from Elections Alberta do not clearly spell out the deadline dates, although Elections Alberta said it attempts to make them as clear as possible.

READ MORE: Opponents react to Alberta Party leader’s appeal for ‘minor administrative offence’