Jamie Lall banned from running for office for 5 years

Jamie Lall, the controversial would-be politician who ran as an independent in the 2015 Alberta election, has been barred from running for office for five years.

What's more, he knew of the sanction while attempting to be the PC candidate in the Calgary-Greenway byelection.

Days before the PCs picked their byelectioncandidate, Lall sought to have the ban lifted by the only means available to himappearing before a Court of Queen's Bench Justice. That application was denied.

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The ban is in place because Lall's financial statements from the 2015 contest were filed eight days late.Shubkearn Sihota, his chief financial officer, is also banned from running for office for five years.

Justice W.A. Tillemandenied Lall's application because the late filingwas not the result of circumstances beyond the control of the candidate or his financial officer, but"it was their fault, and theirsalone."

He said there was no evidence of "bad faith" in not submitting the documents on time, but that the legislation is clear and the punishment must stand.

The pair said the email address where the reminder was sent had lapsed, something Tilleman said was "careless."

Lalltold CBC News he's disappointed, buthe and his lawyers are "exploring the different options that are available here to kind of have this reversed."

He said the problem was not only email, but "there wereissues with mail as wellat a P.O. Box."

Controversies

Lallhas been at the centre of several controversies, including being dumped as the PC candidate in Chestermere-Rockyview by late-night text message in 2015, and subsequently starting a war of words with the party.

After those texts were released, an old restraining order against Lall surfaced. In that order, an ex-girlfriend of Lall'ssaid he was"extremely verbally abusive towards me and my family," but told CBC last year that the two are "diplomatically civil."

Lall said that regardless of what happened in 2015, he's a PC at heart.

"I never really, I guess, left the party, so to speak.I believe in the people that are there now still and, hey, I'm a card-carrying memberright. I have faith in the leadership that's in place now, the executive. The people that are still here are the people you want around," he said

"I've never been much of a party jumper, for lack of a better term."

Calgary-Greenway

The PC nomination in Calgary-Greenwayhas also seen controversy, with the party choosing a preferred candidate andlater backing down due to an outcry within the PCs.

Interim leader Ric McIverwas forced toapologizefor trying to impose a candidate.

The nominationeventually went toPrabhdeep Gill, the same candidateinitially chosen by the party.

Read the Court of Queen's Bench ruling here.