N.S. Liberals allege voter bribery after PC candidate handed out $2 Tim Hortons gift cards

The Nova Scotia Liberals are taking legal action against a Progressive Conservative candidate after her campaign handed out gift cards at a Tim Hortons in Lunenburg, N.S., saying the incident amounts to voter bribery.

The Liberals want Susan Corkum-Greek removed from the ballot in the upcoming provincial election, but the Nova Scotia Supreme Court confirmed Wednesday it will not hear the case until after voting day on Nov. 26.

On Tuesday, the Liberals filed a complaint with Elections Nova Scotia for alleged "vote buying" by Corkum-Greek in breach of section 327 of the Nova Scotia Elections Act.

The act stipulates "every person is guilty of an offence who, directly or indirectly, offers a bribe to induce or influence another person to vote or refrain from voting for or against a particular candidate."

Liberal Leader Zach Chuchill said the party acted after it received information from voters in the constituency that Corkum-Greek was handing out gift cards.

Later Tuesday, the PC campaign manager in Lunenburg admitted to buying $51.75 worth of gift cards, each worth $2.07 — the price of a small cup of coffee — to hand out to Tim Hortons patrons. The manager, Peter Zwicker, subsequently resigned.  

"The candidate did not know that had happened," wrote Zwicker in a statement. "I am sincerely sorry that my actions have caused a distraction to a candidate I have so much respect for."

Petition seeks to disqualify Corkum-Greek

In a news release Wednesday, the Liberals said that given the "admission" by Corkum-Greek's campaign manager, it filed a petition under the Controverted Elections Act on Tuesday.

The petition seeks a declaration from the Nova Scotia Supreme Court that the incident constitutes corrupt practices under the Elections Act.

"The effect of such findings, if granted by the court, would be to disqualify Ms. Corkum-Greek from being eligible to be elected to or sit in the House of Assembly."

On Wednesday, a spokesperson of the Nova Scotia Judiciary said upon review of the petition, the Controverted Elections Act and case law, the court determined it would not schedule a date for the matter until after election day Nov. 26.

Corkum-Greek could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday. She was first elected to the Nova Scotia legislature in 2021 to represent Lunenburg and served as the province's minister of economic development. 

During a campaign announcement Wednesday, PC Leader Tim Houston appeared to deflect blame from Corkum-Greek and onto who he described as a "party volunteer," and accused the Liberals of trying to "weaponize the legal system."

"If you think about what's happening here, $51 worth of Tim Hortons coffee? There's absolutely no chance in the world that Zach Churchill's most recent event, the coffee cost less than that," Houston told reporters in Halifax.

"Let's not lose sight of the fact that this is a Nova Scotian who's volunteering their time to help on a political campaign who maybe made a mistake."

But the Liberals said the Elections Act does not make exceptions for "small" bribes.

"Dismissing the impact of a 'small' bribe is to diminish and tarnish the integrity of our electoral process and ultimately our democracy," the statement said.

It's urging Houston to remove Corkum-Greek as a candidate, and which point it would discontinue its court petition.

The statement also notes that although Elections Nova Scotia is investigating the initial complaint, it has no authority to provide any remedy, other than referring the matter for prosecution.

Naomi Shelton, director of policy and communications at Elections Nova Scotia, confirmed on Tuesday the office was investigating the incident.

The petition was filed by John Robart, president of the Liberal electoral district association for Lunenburg, against Corkum-Greek in Bridgewater.