An early test for NES

MMAH lassos a staffer from Danielle Smith

ABOVE THE FOLD

After his longtime right-hand operative was called out for eight, count ‘em eight, violations under Canada Elections Act, a little birdie tells me ANDREW GOODRIDGE won’t return as provincial Liberal leadership hopeful NATE ERSKINE-SMITH’s campaign manager.

To wit: Goodridge was penalized by Elections Canada for, among other things, falsifying documents and failing to properly record or use certain campaign funds in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. The administrative monetary penalties totalled $2,300 — he was originally dinged $500 for each violation, but that was reduced to $300 apiece. Catch up.

While Goodridge is still Erskine-Smith’s chief of staff in their MP office on the Hill, he won’t be running the campaign for leader, or for Erskine-Smith’s bid to be the party’s candidate in the yet-to-be-called byelection in Scarborough Southwest (which will reportedly be an open nomination contest).

Officially, Erskine-Smith is keeping tight-lipped on the matter.

Unofficia…