Skip to main content

Josh Wingrove.John Lehmann/The Globe and Mail

A Liberal riding association is suing one of its potential candidates, alleging he spent party money wooing support for his own campaign – the latest case of infighting in an Ontario riding where Conservatives already have their own heated battle.

The Liberal association in the newly created riding of Oakville North–Burlington filed the $260,000 lawsuit this month against two former party riding presidents in the region, spouses Rohit and Catherine Dhamija.

According to the lawsuit's statement of claim, Mr. Dhamija had served as head of the Liberal riding association in Halton, a riding that is being redrawn. Much of it will form the new riding of Oakville North–Burlington for next year's federal election.

The Oakville North–Burlington Federal Liberal Association's statement of claim, filed May 2 in Ontario's Superior Court of Justice, alleges Mr. Dhamija "depleted" the Halton riding association's bank account "to promote Rohit's own political ambitions" in Oakville North–Burlington. Mr. Dhamija's website, and the lawsuit, indicate he's seeking the nomination as the Liberal candidate in the new riding.

The statement of claim alleges that Mr. Dhamija, as Halton riding president, used party money to buy Christmas presents for Liberal members and their kids; buy dinner, alcohol and gala tickets for his campaign team and "prospective supporters"; and print pamphlets that "highlighted Rohit's service to the riding association."

The allegations have not been tested in court and no statement of defence has been filed. Messages sent to the two defendants were not returned, and the Liberal Party of Canada declined comment.

It's the second case of political infighting in Oakville North–Burlington this year. Conservatives in the riding are locked in a closely fought battle.

Conservative MP Eve Adams, who represents a Greater Toronto Area riding in Mississauga, is seeking the nomination in the nearby Oakville riding and is being challenged by a local chiropractor, Natalia Lishchyna, whose camp has accused Ms. Adams of foul play and of exceeding spending limits. Ms. Adams' fiancé, Dimitri Soudas, resigned his position as Conservative Party executive director amid questions about his involvement in Ms. Adams' race. A nomination vote is set for May 24.

A recent poll of voters in the riding, conducted by Forum Research, showed the Liberals with a slight edge over the Conservatives. But the lawsuit alleges the new Liberal riding association will have only "nominal" cash in the bank.

According to the statement of claim, the Liberals agreed the old Halton riding association would be dissolved and its assets would be split between two new ridings in the same area, one of them Oakville North–Burlington, on a per-capita basis.

The new Oakville board, elected in March of this year, was "astonished and gravely concerned" to learn it would only get "nominal funds" from the old riding association.

Elections Canada records show the Halton Liberals recorded $17,536.50 in total revenue in 2012, including $70.83 in fundraising activities, and spent $26,376.15, including $10,448.56 on "travel and hospitality." The lawsuit cites some of these figures.

In the same period, the Halton Conservatives brought in $134,129.7, including $27,068.77 from "fundraising activities" and spent a total of $63,953.30, including no spending on travel and hospitality. The Liberal association had $6,179.58 in total assets as of the 2012 filing with Elections Canada, while the Conservative association had $105,062.25. Conservative MP Lisa Raitt holds the Halton riding.

"Rohit's duty to fundraise for the riding association was completely neglected and over-shadowed by his priority of spending the riding association's funds for self-promotion," the statement of claim alleges. "...As a result of Rohit's conflict of interest and lavish spending, he failed, refused, or neglected to raise any funds for election preparedness."

The lawsuit alleges Ms. Dhamija succeeded Mr. Dhamija as interim riding president, before running unsuccessfully to hold on to the job. "It was only after the new board was elected, did the misappropriation of funds and conflict of interest issues come to light," the lawsuit alleges.

The suit seeks damages of $60,000 for misappropriated funds and improper expenses, general damages of $100,000 and punitive damages of another $100,000.

Josh Wingrove is a parliamentary reporter in Ottawa. With a report from Dakshana Bascaramurty in Toronto.

Interact with The Globe