NDP’s $1.2-Million Pamphlet Punishment Challenged in Court

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The NDP is asking the Federal Court to discard an order by the House of Commons for the party to pay up almost $1.2 million for abusing its free-postage privileges. According to a ruling issued by the Conservative-dominated Board of Internal Economy in June, the NDP violated House bylaws by mailing political pamphlets to hundreds of thousands of constituents in 23 ridings.

The board fined the NDP more than $36,000 in fines to the House and $1.17 million to Canada Post. Additionally, the committee has yet to rule on allegations the party used House staff budgets to fund regional party offices. The House bylaws state that the federal parties are allowed four rounds of free mailings to constituents a year, provided that the pamphlets are not overly partisan. Whereas, the board ruled that the NDP pamphlets were indeed partisan and an improper use of taxpayer dollars. On the other hand, the NDP boldly refuses to accept the decision and claims to be the victim of a hypocritical and partisan attack from the Conservatives and Liberals, who have both used their free-postage privileges in the same way.

In his remarks, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair stated that the board’s investigation amounted to a “kangaroo court.” The NDP’s application submitted in the Federal Court asks it to set aside and void the board’s ruling, which the party claims is “unreasonable and incorrect.” It also requests the board to release the file on the case, which the NDP says contains evidence that will exonerate the party.

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