Report on the Investigation into Alleged Breaches of the Elections Act by Steve Craig During the Sackville-Cobequid By-election
Report on the Investigation into Alleged Breaches of the Elections Act by Steve Craig During the Sackville-Cobequid By-election
Media Release: May 29, 2019
Elections Nova Scotia – Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Richard Temporale has release a report discussing his investigation and findings regarding a complaint made by the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party against Steve Craig, the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia’s candidate in the provincial by-election for the electoral district of Sackville-Cobequid and the Municipal Councillor for District 15 (Lower Sackville) in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The complaint alleged that Mr. Craig may have breached the Nova Scotia Elections Act
(the Act) by using municipal resources to promote himself as a candidate in the Sackville-Cobequid by-election.
Under the Act, the CEO is responsible to enforce fairness, impartiality and compliance with the Act, and may investigate matters that might constitute an offence under the Act. The CEO’s report outlines the investigation he undertook in this matter and concludes that Mr. Craig did not violate the provincial election laws under the Act.
The CEO’s report also makes recommendations for amendments to the Act and suggests updating municipal guidelines to provide future clarity.
Elections Nova Scotia has released this report for transparency because the complaint was communicated publicly and reported on by media. The CEO’s report is available on the Compliance page of the ENS website at: https://electionsnovascotia.ca/content/compliance
Contact: Naomi Shelton
Director, Policy and Communications
Elections Nova Scotia
902-424-3275 or 902-223-4871