Supreme Court upholds former Alberta politician's appeal, election suit can proceed

Former Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA Joe Anglin. Photo courtesy Facebook.

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada is allowing a lawsuit from a former politician against Alberta’s former top elections official to continue.

Former legislature member Joe Anglin launched the suit in 2017, alleging the chief electoral officer interfered in his bid for re-election two years earlier.

Anglin was elected in 2012 under the now defunct Wildrose Party banner, quit caucus two years later, and ran as an Independent candidate in 2015.

During the election campaign that year, Elections Alberta investigated and fined Anglin for issues with his lawn signs and pamphlets, which included having sponsorship information printed too small.

Anglin alleged he was the victim of malicious prosecution and that former chief electoral officer Glen Resler acted in bad faith.

The lawsuit was thrown out in 2022.

Anglin successfully appealed the decision in part in 2024, although his claim of malicious prosecution was denied.

Resler appealed to the Supreme Court, which sided with Anglin and upheld the Alberta Appeal Court’s ruling that the lawsuit can continue.

The Canadian Press