Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Ministerial adviser, Gurveen Dhaliwal, won't be charged in election rule violation probe

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Jul, 2023 03:13 PM
  • Ministerial adviser, Gurveen Dhaliwal, won't be charged in election rule violation probe

A former school board trustee from Metro Vancouver who later became a provincial government adviser will not be charged for allegedly violating election laws, the British Columbia Prosecution Service said Thursday.

The service had tapped a special prosecutor in May to give legal advice on the investigation of Gurveen Dhaliwal, who served as a trustee in New Westminster before being named as an adviser to Health Minister Adrian Dix on May 1.

The investigation stemmed from Dhaliwal's presence as a scrutineer during the same election last November in which she was running for a second term.

The Local Government Act prohibits candidates from being in voting places for any purpose other than casting a ballot. 

Special Prosecutor John Gordon found Dhaliwal's presence as a scrutineer likely contravened the provisions of the act.

But he declined to charge her for violations because the "charge assessment standard" had not been met, the prosecution service said in a statement.

Gordon concluded that Dhaliwal's brief stint as a scrutineer constituted "a genuine mistake or misunderstanding of fact," the service said.

"During the police investigation Ms. Dhaliwal stated that she was unaware that, as a candidate, she was prohibited from being present at the voting place for any purpose other than casting her own ballot," it said.

"This fact was not noticed or brought to her attention when she presented her candidate representation form to the Presiding Election Official at the voting place and was permitted to remain as a scrutineer."

Dhaliwal did not serve as a scrutineer for long, about 20 minutes, and "nothing remarkable" occurred while she was present, the statement noted.

Dhaliwal did not return a request for comment on the decision, but a statement released through her lawyer said she was "vindicated."

Her appointment to the Health Ministry was rescinded May 15, shortly after the special prosecutor's appointment.

Dhaliwal was made an adviser to the labour minister that same day, before the premier's office said on May 26 that she'd been placed on leave.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. port strike enters day five, with talks deadlocked over maintenance

B.C. port strike enters day five, with talks deadlocked over maintenance
The BC Maritime Employers Association meanwhile says the union is trying to "aggressively expand" its control of maintenance duties far beyond an agreement that the association says has been "legally well established for decades."

B.C. port strike enters day five, with talks deadlocked over maintenance

Tuesday set an unofficial record for the hottest day on Earth. Wednesday may break it.

Tuesday set an unofficial record for the hottest day on Earth. Wednesday may break it.
The planet's temperature spiked on Tuesday to its hottest day in at least 44 years and likely much longer, and Wednesday could become the third straight day Earth unofficially marks a record-breaking high, the latest in a series of climate-change extremes that alarm but don't surprise scientists

Tuesday set an unofficial record for the hottest day on Earth. Wednesday may break it.

Canadian government drops ads on Facebook, Instagram as Meta promises to block news

Canadian government drops ads on Facebook, Instagram as Meta promises to block news
The decision came after Meta promised to block Canadian news content on its Facebook and Instagram platforms in response to Canada's recently passed Online News Act. The new law will require tech giants pay media outlets for content they share or otherwise repurpose on their platforms.

Canadian government drops ads on Facebook, Instagram as Meta promises to block news

More campfire bans coming to B.C. by Friday as dry conditions raise wildfire danger

More campfire bans coming to B.C. by Friday as dry conditions raise wildfire danger
The BC Wildfire Service says, as of noon on Friday, campfires will no longer be permitted in the Kamloops Fire Centre. The restriction will also extend to include all areas of the Coastal Fire Centre, except Haida Gwaii.

More campfire bans coming to B.C. by Friday as dry conditions raise wildfire danger

Two dead as motorcycle and SUV collide between Lytton and Spences Bridge, B.C.

Two dead as motorcycle and SUV collide between Lytton and Spences Bridge, B.C.
Two people have died in a collision between a motorcycle and an SUV northeast of Lytton, British Columbia. A statement from RCMP says the crash happened just after 6 p.m. Monday on Highway 1 between Lytton and Spences Bridge. Staff Sgt. Kris Clark says both victims were on the motorcycle.

Two dead as motorcycle and SUV collide between Lytton and Spences Bridge, B.C.

Crackdown on street racing in Surrey

Crackdown on street racing in Surrey
Surrey R-C-M-P say video shared widely online back in May showed a vintage Chevy stunt driving before crashing into a semi-truck during a large gathering. Police say they’ve now recommended charges against the driver, and returned to the street in mid-June to crack down on street racing along the stretch. 

Crackdown on street racing in Surrey