Nova Scotia electoral director drops investigation into Preston-Halifax by-election complaint

Nova Scotia’s chief electoral officer says her office is abandoning a formal investigation launched during the campaign ahead of last month’s provincial byelection in Preston riding.

Dorothy Rice called the RCMP after the Liberals ignored an order to remove signs and campaign materials suggesting a plan was afoot to establish a landfill in the riding.

Rice made the decision after the ruling Progressive Conservative Party filed a lawsuit July 28, saying Liberal documents falsely claimed that Prime Minister Tim Houston was doing nothing to stop the plan.

In a statement released today, Rice says that after further review of the initial complaint, she has decided to discontinue the investigation and has also informed the RCMP of her decision.

Rice says the matter is considered “concluded” and she will make no further comment, although she will make recommendations for legislative changes regarding the regulation of election advertising in a report on the by-election expected within weeks future.

Progressive Conservative Twila Grosse won the Aug. 8 byelection, filling a seat held by the Liberals for most of the past 20 years.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published September 8, 2023.