After the Commissioner of Elections confirmed voting irregularities in his riding in the 2021 campaign, Liberal MP George Chahal (Calgary Skyview) did not comment on the investigation..According to Blacklock’s Reporter, a Liberal aide from the Prime Minister’s Office was among the scofflaws casting illegal ballots..“The failure of those involved in the political process to comply with the rules adopted by Parliament to ensure a fair election can contribute to a loss of public confidence in the integrity of members of the political class, which may, as a result, increase voter apathy,” the Commissioner wrote in a Notice of Violation..Ayesha Chughtai, a Liberal campaign organizer and then-Prairie regional advisor to the prime minister, insisted on voting for Chahal in an advance poll. However, she did not live in the riding, records showed. .Warned she was in breach of the Canada Elections Act, Chughtai replied she was determined to “support the Liberal Party candidate running in that electoral district,” according to the Commissioner. MP Chahal won the riding by 2,981 votes..Chughtai has now left the Prime Minister’s Office. She had to pay a fine of $1,500. .The Commissioner provided no more information about a second case involving Shehnaz Chaughtai, who was fined $1,250 because she tried to vote illegally in Calgary Skyview..Chahal got in trouble himself on Jan. 25 of last year because he broke the Elections Act. This happened after a video showed him taking campaign materials from another candidate's mailbox. Chahal said he was sorry..“I have accepted and paid a $500 administrative penalty,” Chahal said in an earlier statement. .“I want to again apologize and acknowledge my mistake.”.A home security camera recorded a video on Sept. 19, 2021, which was one day before voting day. In the video, the MP wore a “Vote George” T-shirt and took Conservative campaign materials from a private mailbox..The Elections Act section 325.1 states, “No person shall prevent or impair the transmission to the public of an election advertising message without the consent of a person with authority to authorize its transmission.”.“Chahal admitted to investigators he removed the other candidate’s flyer,” the Office of the Commissioner said in an earlier statement. .“The failure of candidates to comply with the rules adopted by Parliament can contribute to a loss of public confidence.”.Organizers from the Conservative Party said that Chahal damaged their materials and replaced them with a campaign booklet that led voters to a faraway polling station..MP John Brassard (Barrie-Innisfil, ON) called it a notable breach “even with the low bar on ethics and conduct set by the Liberals and the prime minister.”.Other MPs made fun of Chahal because of the recorded theft..“Thanks to him, a lot more paper brochures were produced during the campaign,” said Bloc Québécois MP Alex Brunelle-Duceppe (Lac-St. Jean, QC), a former paper mill worker. .“I really appreciate that. We know the pulp and paper industry is struggling.”
