The legal representative of a former Bloc Quebecois Member of Parliament (MP) who lost her constituency by a single vote in the recent federal election is calling for a re-vote. A three-day hearing commenced today in St-Jerome, Quebec, as Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné challenges the election outcome in the Terrebonne district, situated north of Montreal.
This legal action follows a revelation by a local resident, who claimed her special ballot for the Bloc was rejected due to an address error on the Elections Canada-provided envelope. Incumbent MP Sinclair-Desgagné was defeated by Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste by a margin of just one vote on April 28.
Stephane Chatigny, the lawyer for Sinclair-Desgagné, argues that the voter’s rights under the Charter were violated by the uncounted ballot and insists on a new election being called in the constituency. Chatigny also points out that 16 other special ballots were not returned on time, suggesting a potential impact on other voters due to similar errors.
