By Jasmine Franklin
A political activist has been warned he could face a fine of $100, 000 and a one-year jail term over the use of an electoral list in the Calgary-Glenmore byelection.
Joe Anglin, former Green party leader and activist for the Lavesta Group, has landed in the centre of a dispute with Elections Alberta after a public complaint was made against him concerning the possible use of an electoral list used to mail out flyers three days previous to the byelection.
“The press release from the Lavesta Area Group accompanying the flyer references a ‘direct mail-out flyer to the registered voters of the Calgary-Glenmore riding,’” said acting chief electoral office Lori McKee-Jeske in an email.
On Friday Sept. 11, three days before the Monday byelection for Calgary-Glenmore, the Lavesta Group — a group of Alberta landowners — distributed flyers to the Calgary area urging voters to avoid voting Progressive Conservative to oppose Bill-50 — an act that approves the need for new transmission lines. A press release, accompanied with the flyer was also sent out to reporters.
Anglin received an email and concerned phone call from Elections Alberta the day of flyer distribution and McKee-Jeskee informed Anglin about the penalties of using an electoral list, including a $100,000 fine and a one-year jail term, should the allegations be true.
Drew Westwater, director of Elections Alberta media, said the complaint was generated from the wording “direct-mail-out” flyer in the press release. The complainant was concerned the “direct-mail-out” referenced an electoral list.
“I purchased Admail from Canada Post which basically means a flyer will go out to every mail box,” Anglin explained. “I have the receipts to prove it.”
Anglin stands firm in his position that he did not, nor does he have an electoral list, which displays all of the registered voters for a riding.
Upon receiving the email on the evening of Sept. 11, Elections Alberta called Anglin to question the situation and present consequences should it be found an electoral list was used.
“It’s just an allegation,” Westwater said. “We will keep following up on a normal course of business.”
Anglin was given until Sept. 18 to respond to the allegations. In response, he sent an email asking for clarification on the events leading up to the phone call because he was unclear of the circumstances causing the email and phone call.
Anglin said he received various answers as to where the complaint was generated from — he said Elections Alberta said the complaint was generated through the press release and not a complainant.
“It just makes no sense,” Anglin said.
In the email response, Anglin states that the group admits to mailing out a flyer to the voters of Calgary-Glenmore and agreed to co-operate with Elections Alberta, stating he would attend a meeting should one be requested to reach a resolution.
Anglin, however, was pleased with the result of the byelection as Paul Hinman of the Wildrose Alliance Party won the seat with 37 per cent of the votes. PC candidate Dianne Colley-Urquart came in third with 26 per cent.