There will be a nomination meeting to determine who will represent the Conservative Party of Canada locally in the next federal election.
Brad Clift, vice-president of the Conservative Party of Canada riding association confirmed to myFM last week that the nomination application submitted by Anthony Shields has been approved.
The Central Elgin resident will join Londoner Andrew Lawton in a two-horse race to determine the candidate in Elgin-Middlesex-London.
A date for the nomination meeting is expected to be announced today (Monday).
Meantime Clift has responded to allegations made by Lawton that the riding nomination process is “shameful and undemocratic.”
This is a reference to the determination that potential candidate Tony Brooks of Port Stanley isn’t being allowed to contest the Conservative nomination due to a membership irregularity.
Here is Clift’s statement:
“Andrew’s comments aren’t representative of how the process works. The local committee does not have the ability to disqualify nominees.
“The National Candidate Selection Committee has the final say as to who is allowed to contest the riding. “The local Nomination Committee is in place only to advise the National Committee.
“If the nominees or the public would like to read the rules they are available on the Conservative Party of Canada website at http://www.conservative.ca
Clift continues, “As for questions relating to the volunteers that make up the committee and if they are conservatives. The members of the Nomination Committee were voted on by the Conservative Party local EDA.
“Many of the members of this EDA (electoral district association) have represented the Conservative Party and the riding for many years. Some have volunteered to be on the EDA for 15-plus years and helped multiple Conservative MPs and have volunteered in local and London ridings.
“These individuals have all volunteered their time to represent Conservative values. I don’t believe it is fair for anyone to question the motive of this committee or its members who have all agreed to be fair and neutral.
“As for comments relating to what was asked by the committee while interviewing Andrew Lawton; both the candidate and the committee have signed confidentiality agreements prior to the interview so I render no comment as to what was discussed.”
You can read Lawton’s initial statement here.
