UMVA has learned that Ahsanul Hafiz has been confirmed as the Ontario Liberal nominee for Scarborough Southwest, following an arbitration committee's dismissal of an appeal by rival candidate Nate Erskine-Smith.
The arbitration committee's decision, announced late Sunday night, brings an end to the controversy surrounding the nomination process, which had been marred by allegations of irregularities and voter ID issues.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Erskine-Smith had finished second to Hafiz by just 19 votes during the nomination process, and had subsequently filed an appeal on May 12, casting doubts on the results.
In a statement, Hafiz expressed his gratitude to the arbitration committee and his team, saying he is "focused on winning the support of voters in Scarborough Southwest and turning this riding red."
The arbitration committee's decision found that "none of the irregularities alleged by Mr. Erskine-Smith was an irregularity that affected the result of the election or that calls into question the integrity of the nomination process," and confirmed that Hafiz was the true winner of the vote.
Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser said the party had "committed to an open and transparent nomination process — and that commitment did not waver when a challenge was filed," and that the party's "full attention turns to Scarborough Southwest" in the lead-up to the byelection.
Premier Doug Ford has yet to announce a byelection date for Scarborough Southwest, which was left vacant after former NDP MPP Doly Begum resigned to represent the riding federally for the Liberals.
