The NDP confirmed Thursday that it intends to appeal a decision to fine the party more than $1 million for sending millions of pieces of mail that were ruled partisan.
The NDP filed the notice of application to the federal court on July 3 in Montreal.
The notice says the official opposition is applying for judicial review of the Board of Internal Economy’s decision to fine the party for using the free parliamentary mailing system to send partisan mail.
In the notice, the NDP says the decision and fines should be annulled because they are:
• “unreasonable and incorrect,”
• “contrary to the principles of justice,” and
• “contrary to the rule of law.”
In June, the Board of Internal Economy, a House of Commons committee in charge of MPs’ spending, found that the NDP broke the rules when it used taxpayer-funded resources to send out 1.8 million letters deemed partisan to addresses in 26 ridings.
It then ruled that 23 NDP MPs should pay back the costs for mailing $36,000 worth of partisan material. It also ruled that the NDP must pay back an additional $1.17 million in postage costs to Canada Post.
The Board of Internal Economy is composed of four Conservatives, two New Democrats, and one Liberal.
The controversy played a major role in question period discussions in early June, when the Conservatives repeatedly accused the NDP of misspending tax payer money.
At the time of the ruling, the NDP called the board a “kangaroo court” and insisted that their mailing practices actions didn’t break any rules. They said that a House of Commons clerk cleared the mailings before they were sent out.
