Alberta Party leader Stephen Mandel deemed ineligible to run until 2023

Alberta Party leader Stephen Mandel is one of severalcandidates declared ineligible to run in the coming provincial election, according to a list released by Elections Alberta.

But Mandel believes there was a deadline mixup from Elections Alberta and plans to continue campaigning and fight the ban in court if necessary.

Mandel is one of seven Alberta Party candidates listed on the Elections Alberta website as being ineligible related to the "2018 nomination contest," a list that includessix candidates endorsed by the party.Another seven Alberta Party members are listed as ineligible to act as a chief financialofficer.Eight people from other parties are listed as well six from the United Conservative Party and two from NDP, though none of those candidates secured their party's nomination.

Those listed serve an ineligibility period of five or eight years.

"Effective Date is the date the financial statement was filed (five-yearpenalty) or the date the speaker laid the report before the committee (eight-year penalty)," the website states.

Mandel, the Alberta Party leader and candidate for Edmonton-McClung,is listed as having a five-year ineligibility period ending on Sept. 27, 2023, which would make him not able to run in the next two provincial elections in Alberta. The ban was imposed because of late paperwork, though Mandelsuggested there was confusion about the deadline for filing.

In a statement sent to media Friday night, Mandel says he respects the decision of Elections Alberta butthe partyplans to fight the ban.

"While this is concerning, we also believe there is confusion about the actual due dates this paperwork is due to Elections Alberta," reads the statement. "Because the penalties for late filing are so serious, we have also applied to Court of Queen's Bench to review and rule on this matter as soon as possible."

Elections Alberta requires that financial statements be receivedby 4:30 p.m. four months after the date of conclusion for a nomination contest. Mandel's nomination contest in Edmonton-McClung was heldon May 12, 2018. That means the financial statement needed to be filed by Sept. 12, but Mandel's statement is stamped as received on Sept. 27. Both CFO Brian Heidecker and Mandel signed and dated the document on Sept. 24.

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However, Elections Alberta sent a letter to MandeldatedJuly 13, 2018 that states that campaign period ended on July 12, 2018. A letter sent Feb. 3from Miller Thomson LLP, Mandel's legal counsel, points out the discrepancy.

"There is an obvious inconsistency between the CEO's letters and the Election Alberta standard Return form as to the proper calculation of the nomination contest conclusion date and the corresponding Return filing deadline," the Feb. 3 letter states.

The Miller Thomson LLP also notes a potential discrepancy between the date Elections Alberta states Mandel was endorsed as an official candidate by the Alberta Party which is May 12, 2018 and the date that party records say Mandel was selected which is May 23, 2018.

The statement from the Alberta Party says Mandel's status as party leader is unchanged. Mandel is scheduled to have a media availabilityat 2 p.m. Saturday in Edmonton.