Dr. Ruby Dhalla, a candidate in the Liberal Party of Canada’s leadership race, has been disqualified following a thorough investigation.
Azam Ishmael, National Director of the Liberal Party of Canada, made the announcement in a statement on behalf of the Liberal Leadership Vote Committee.
“The decision followed an extensive process and review, including interviews, questionnaires, and an opportunity for Dr. Dhalla to directly address the committees,” said Ishmael.
“After a thorough investigation, the Leadership Vote Committee and the Leadership Expense Committee, sitting jointly, unanimously determined that Dr. Dhalla was in breach of 10 violations of the National Leadership Rules, Leadership Vote Rules, and Leadership Expense Rules.”
Some of these violations reportedly involve concerns about alleged breaches of the Canada Elections Act, as well as election finance matters, non-disclosure of material facts, and inaccurate financial reporting.
“The Leadership Vote Committee determined that the violations were extremely serious, accepted the recommendation of the Chief Electoral Officer, and disqualified Dr. Dhalla under section 8(i) of the National Leadership Rules,” Ishmael concluded.
The decision to disqualify her was unanimous among the vote committee members.
Dr. Dhalla has been the subject of controversy in past political endeavours.
In 2007, Service Canada launched an investigation after she dismissed a parliamentary staffer whom she alleged had pretended to be ill. The investigation found no evidence to support her claim and ruled the termination wrongful.
In 2008, during a trip to India for a seminar, a member of Dr. Dhalla’s staff had their purse stolen. The two children responsible were later apprehended and beaten by police.
A local Indian news station aired a quote from Dr. Dhalla that was reportedly taken out of context, making it seem as though she condoned the police violence. The station later issued a full retraction.
Another controversy arose in 2009 when a Toronto Star front-page article alleged that two caregivers hired to care for her mother had been mistreated and employed illegally.
The caregivers claimed that Dr. Dhalla had taken their passports, required them to work unpaid overtime, and forced them to perform tasks outside their job descriptions.
A third caregiver later came forward with similar allegations.
Dr. Dhalla and her lawyers maintained that the controversy was a smear campaign fabricated by her political opponents.
Ultimately, no charges were filed, and she did not seek re-election in the 2011 federal election.
Dr. Dhalla served as the Member of Parliament for the Brampton–Springdale riding from 2004 to 2011.
With her disqualification, four candidates remain in the race for the Liberal Party’s leadership: Frank Baylis, Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland, and Karina Gould.
The candidates will debate in French on February 24th and in English on February 25th.
Liberal Party members will vote on March 9th, with the new leader—who will replace Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister—announced on the same day.
