Burnaby South PPC candidate files complaint against Conservative opponent

Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson, the PPC candidate for Burnaby South has put out a press release stating that her campaign has "filed a formal complaint and submitted evidence against Jay Shin, Conservative Party of Canada Candidate, with the Commissioner of Elections Canada and requested urgent action in response"  to an allegedly defamatory brochure his campaign put out.

Thompson believes that the brochure, which includes pictures of marijuana leaves and syringes used to inject heroin, is defamatory and misrepresents her position regarding cannabis legislation and drug injection sites, and clearly implies that she favours drug use. Thompson contacted the Shin campaign to immediately cease and desist with the distribution of the brochure and asked Jay Shin to take responsibility for what he and his campaign have done.

Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson has taken a front seat in the February Burnaby South byelection since it was called by the Prime Minister, contending with NDP leader Jagmeet Singh in public debates.

Earlier this month, Thompson was excluded from attending a town hall on climate change by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.

Thompson said, “This smear brochure is an outrageous and false attack on my character and is also a direct inducement for people to vote against me. I believe this is in violation of the Elections Canada Act, so I have sent my evidence and complaint to the Commissioner of Elections Canada.”

The Post Millennial has received a copy of the brochure to verify its existence.

The brochure references several policy positions of the PPC on safe injection sites and cannabis legalization as a reason not to vote for the candidate.

Conservative party candidate Jay Shin has sent in the following statement in regards to the allegations put forward by Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson.

“Laura Lynn Thompson can explain Maxime Bernier’s position on the legalization of marijuana and drug injection sites. Bernier has been directly quoted in the media as stating, “In principle, I’m [Bernier] in favour of the legalization of marijuana”, and more disturbingly, he stated, “we must be open to review the position” on drug injection sites.

It’s up to Laura Lynn Thompson to explain Maxime Bernier’s and the People’s Party’s position on these two matters. And if she is in disagreement with Bernier and the People’s Party, why is she running for them?” Jay Shin

This is a developing story and will be updated.