A candidate from the Bloc Québécois announced her decision to appeal to the Supreme Court in a bid for a new election in the Terrebonne riding near Montreal. The federal Liberals narrowly clinched victory in April by a single vote, defeating the Bloc Québécois. Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné’s appeal to the highest court comes after a Superior Court judge recently dismissed her claim that irregularities should invalidate the Liberal candidate Tatiana Auguste’s slim win.
Sinclair-Desgagné expressed her intention to challenge the Superior Court’s ruling, citing factual errors and a legal interpretation that warrant an appeal. In a statement posted on Facebook in French, she highlighted the need for a review of the judgment. The initial election results had shown Auguste as the winner, but a subsequent validation process saw Sinclair-Desgagné take the lead. However, a judicial recount finalized on May 10 confirmed the Liberals’ victory by a margin of one vote.
The appeal stems from a situation where a Bloc voter’s special ballot was not counted due to an address error on the envelope provided by Elections Canada. Sinclair-Desgagné argued that this irregularity impacted at least one voter’s ability to cast a valid vote. Despite the Superior Court’s rejection of this argument, stating that the postal code mistake did not meet the criteria for an irregularity under electoral law, Sinclair-Desgagné remains determined to pursue legal action.
To finance the litigation process, Sinclair-Desgagné plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign, acknowledging the financial challenges involved in appealing to the Supreme Court. She emphasized her commitment to upholding democratic principles and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.
