Liberals drop Calgary candidate over failure to disclose 2005 stayed domestic assault charge
The Liberal Party of Canada has made the decision to remove its candidate in the Calgary Confederation riding after it was discovered that he failed to disclose a 20-year-old domestic assault charge. Thomas Keeper, a 49-year-old real estate broker, was announced as the Liberal candidate for Calgary Confederation on March 11. However, court records revealed that Keeper was charged with common assault on June 6, 2005, with his wife at the time being the complainant according to divorce records. The charge was stayed just over six weeks later on July 20, 2005.
When approached for comment, Keeper did not respond to requests for further information about the charge. The Liberal Party of Canada confirmed on Friday that they had cut ties with Keeper due to the lack of disclosure. A party spokesperson stated, “This information was not disclosed to the party, and Mr. Keeper is no longer a candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada.”
The Liberal Party has until April 13 to find a replacement candidate for Calgary Confederation, as per Elections Canada rules. This is not the first time the party has faced such a situation, as they had to sever ties with Toronto candidate Kevin Vuong in 2021 for failing to disclose a sexual assault charge that was later dropped. Vuong went on to win the seat in Spadina-Fort York as an independent before deciding not to seek re-election.
In light of recent news that the current Conservative MP for Calgary Confederation, Len Webber, will not be seeking re-election, the riding is now up for grabs. Jeremy Nixon, a former UCP MLA in Calgary-Klein, is the Conservative candidate, while Keira Gunn is running for the NDP.
Political science professor Lisa Young from the University of Calgary emphasized the importance of thorough vetting procedures for potential candidates to prevent any past issues from causing distractions during the election campaign. She noted that while the Liberals may not typically expect to win in Calgary Confederation, recent polling suggests the seat could be competitive. Therefore, it is crucial for the party to have a credible candidate who will not deter voters.
Moving forward, the Liberal Party will need to swiftly identify and vet a new candidate to enter the race in Calgary Confederation. With the election campaign coming together at the last minute, it is essential for the party to select a candidate who can quickly integrate into the campaign and represent the party effectively.
