Liberal leadership bites

Mason Loh says he feels vindicated after a federal Liberal Party appeal committee ruled allegations of fraud against leadership hopeful Bob Rae's B.C. campaign are unsubstantiated.

In its ruling yesterday, the committee denied a push from leadership frontrunner Michael Ignatieff's campaign to disqualify Rae supporters before the pending leadership convention. It also criticized the campaign for accusing the Rae campaign of fraud with no proof.

"The notice of appeal contains numerous allegations of fraud, many of which, even if proven, would have been entirely irrelevant," the ruling stated. "However, no attempt was made ... to prove even one of those allegations."

That floated Loh's boat.

"I'm very happy to read the party decision which said basically that a lot of allegations that were made originally against some of the volunteers and the Bob Rae campaign were unfounded," Loh said in an interview yesterday. "There was absolutely no proof presented for those allegations. In fact the party decided to penalize the appellant."

The Ignatieff campaign will now be fined $1,000, which could mean guests at the reception being held for Ignatieff delegates at the ritzy Terminal City Club this Thursday may have to shift down to a lesser brand of crackers. I recommend Triscuits: they're nutricious, delicious, and they don't go soggy when baked. Here's a can't miss party pleaser.

When asked whether he would seek "legal retribution" for the allegations, Loh was unspecific.

"I'm focused on the leadership right now, so other matters can wait until after that," said Loh, who stepped down as Rae's B.C. campaign chair when the delegate-signing kerfuffle came to light. "It's not going to be too long now, just a few weeks from now that we will complete the campaign. So that's the focus right now. As to other matters, that will wait for another day."

Uh, so you won't be seeking any retribution, legally or otherwise?

"I'm just saying my focus right now is on the campaign."

The Libs' new leader is to be decided in three weeks at the leadership convention in Montreal. Speaking of which, was this really the best photo anyone could find of Martha Hall Findlay?

Tags: liberal, leadership, bob rae, michael ignatieff