Former Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla has lost her appeal to remain in the Liberal Party’s leadership race after being disqualified for multiple rule violations.
The Liberal Party of Canada's permanent appeals committee upheld the original decision to remove Dhalla from the contest, national director Azam Ishmael confirmed in a statement released Monday, just before the French-language leadership debate began.
Dhalla was initially disqualified on February 21 following allegations of breaching the Canada Elections Act, failing to disclose material facts, and submitting inaccurate financial reports.
Specific concerns included accepting corporate donations through campaign staff payments and not disclosing a non-Canadian citizen's involvement in her campaign.
The Liberal Party also withheld $21,000 in donations to investigate whether contributors exceeded legal limits.
Dhalla strongly rejected the allegations, describing them as "false" and "fabricated."
Dhalla suggested her disqualification stemmed from bias against her Indian heritage and claimed the party did not want her to win.
The remaining leadership candidates include Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland, Frank Baylis, and Karina Gould.
Liberals will select their new leader on March 9.