Trouble in Erskine-Smith's camp

SDF hits back

ABOVE THE FOLD

AMP’D UP PROBLEMS — A major blow to NATE ERSKINE-SMITH’s provincial leadership and byelection bids before they’ve even officially begun: the federal MP’s campaign manager and longtime political aide on the Hill has been called out by Elections Canada for multiple violations of the Canada Elections Act.

ANDREW GOODRIDGE has eight violations, otherwise known as administrative monetary penalties (AMPs), which the elections commissioner can impose for breaching the law. Goodridge was expected to be Erskine-Smith’s campaign manager for upcoming Ontario Liberal leadership race (he was in the last round) — and this latest crop of sanctions casts a serious cloud over the nascent campaign.

Two of the published AMPs relate to Erskine-Smith’s 2021 campaign in Beaches-East York. Specifically, the commish says Goodridge falsified four campaign worker wage agreements in the amount of $9,938.75, and also exceeded the limit for nominal gifts to volunteers by $6,491.25. That’s a no-no, n…