Ontario PCs overturn two controversial nominations in Scarborough and Ottawa

TheProgressive Conservative Party of Ontario overturned controversial nominations for two candidates in Scarborough Centre and OttawaWest-Nepean on Fridayamidstreports of alleged corruption.

In the wake of problems surrounding former PCleader Patrick Brown, officials with the Tories decided to throwout the results of contentious candidate electionsafter somelong-time PC members urgedthe partyto reopennominations across Ontario.

Nominations for as many as six candidates, includingScarborough Centre candidateThenushaParaniand Ottawa West-Nepeancandidate KarmaMacgregor, were in consideration to be overturned.

• PC members urge party to strip candidate of nomination

• Toronto police dispute PC candidate's claim of volunteer work with force

Paraniwas officially named as thecandidate for Scarborough Centre after winning a June 26 nomination meeting, despite complaints thatpeople who signed Parani's nomination papers were not eligible under the party's rules.

In July of 2017 Progressive Conservative members asked forParani'snominationto be stripped because of alleged irregularities.

Toronto police officers even questionedParani'shistory ofextensive volunteer work she claims shedid with the force.

Meanwhile,allegations of shady campaign tactics were made in the riding ofOttawa West-Nepean whereMacgregor defeated Jeremy Roberts by a mere 15 votes at the nomination meeting in May of 2017.

Candidates push back

Prior to the decision, bothParaniandMacgregorissued a joint statement fighting back against the push to overturn their nominations.

"We have learned today that there are actions being taken against a number of candidates by certain individuals based on rumours and innuendos," theysaid.

The rookie candidates said they have not beenaskedor given an opportunity to provide their point of view on the situation and find that more women are being targeted unfairly.

"We call on the leadership candidates Caroline Mulroney, Christine Elliot and Doug Ford, and interim leader Vic Fedeli, to put an end to this, so we can move forward collectively."

PC party members urge clean up

Retired Conservative Senator MarjoryLeBretontold CBC News the party still had time to run a properlyconstituted riding nomination meeting.

LeBretonsaid she witnesseda nomination meeting that hadvery fraudulent activityin OttawaWest-Nepeanon May 6, 2017.

"At the time I called for the party to take a look at it and declare the meeting void," she said.

• Clean-up 'corruption', allow new nominations, PC party members urge

• Investigate fake party memberships, Ottawa PCs urge

Brown, then leader, had appointed candidates who werenominated in controversial nomination meetings across the province despite calls for a review. He approved the nominations of ParaniandMacgregor.

Several other Progressive Conservative party volunteers toldCBCthey saw evidenceparty executives allowed ballot stuffing andineligible membersto vote.

Since Brown resigned onJan. 25 after allegations of sexual misconductinvolving teenage girls surfaced, the PC party says it has started making movesto fix internal issues.

New nomination meetings are expected to be held prior to theprovincialelection on June 7.