Lawyer Kyle Rees and client Alison Coffin say they’re disappointed but not surprised that their bid for a judicial recount failed.
Coffin, who is staying on as NDP leader for now, lost her St. John’s East-Quidi Vid seat to Liberal John Abbott by 53 votes.
Rees had argued there were enough irregularities with the voting process to warrant a recount, but the judge said they didn’t present enough specific, first-hand evidence of that.
Rees blames an outdated Elections Act and previous governments for failing to modernize it. He says the only way to ensure common-sense legislation is to elect MHAs with common sense, adding voters haven’t always done that. But Rees says proposed changes can’t come soon enough.
A House of Assembly committee has been struck to review the 30-year-old Elections Act and propose changes, though not to the Opposition’s liking.
The government, meanwhile, has suggested investigations into alleged irregularities are best pursued in the courts.
Three applications to do just that will be back in Supreme Court on May 21.
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Supreme Court Dismisses Application for Recount in St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi
