Some PCs in Ottawa riding want candidate to stay out of new race

With a new nomination meeting now coming for Progressive Conservatives in Ottawa WestNepean, some local party members wantKarma Macgregor,who won the contest last time, to stay out of the race.

On Friday night, the PC party's provincial nomination committee decided to overturn twolocal nomination decisions in Ontario. Ottawa WestNepeanwas one of those two races that was overturned withallegations of fraud, corruption and fake memberships.

Macgregorhas remained silent about her intentions since the decision was announced, butJeremy Roberts, 26, who lost toMacgregorby 15 votes, plans to run again.

'Get out of here'

There is now at least onecall for Macgregor to stay out of this race and let other people run for the spot this time around.

"I think Karma should do the right thing and walk. Get out of here," said Thom Bennett, Progressive Conservative member, who said he's not the only one who feels this way. "The process was faulty...It should have been turned down that day."

It all goes back to the May2017 nomination meeting where several witnesses said theysaw evidence of ballot stuffing, ineligible members allowed to vote and party executives that allowed it all to happen.

• Clean-up corruption, allow new nominations
• PC members urge:Investigate fake memberships

The leader at the time, Patrick Brown, shut down any discussion of an appeal and appointed Macgregor, the party executive in Ottawa West-Nepean resigned en masse.

Macgregoris an advisor to a senator on Parliament Hill. At the time of the nomination, her daughter, Tamara Macgregor was Patrick Brown's deputy chief of staff.

Over the past two weeks, several CBC requests to Macgregorwent unanswered.

Young Conservatives disillusioned

Roberts said many young Conservatives were disillusioned by the nomination and planned to desert the party, but the recall is restoring faith in the process.

"So many people in Ottawa WestNepean said 'We're so disgusted by what happened', they said I'm not going to donate to the party, I'm not going to volunteer with the party, I'm not going to do anything to help Karma Macgregor," said Roberts.

"Ithink that's a real travesty. We need to get everyone back involved."