Ruby Dhalla disqualified from Liberal leadership race

Former Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla says the allegations against her campaign 'are false, they're fictitious and they're fabricated.'

Former MP Ruby Dhalla has been disqualified from the Liberal Leadership race, the Liberal Party of Canada said in a press release. Her ouster comes amid questions about campaign finances and possible allegations of foreign interference, which Dhalla strongly denies.

The Liberal Leadership Vote Committee unanimously made the decision following “an extensive process and review, including interviews, questionnaires, and an opportunity for Dr. Dhalla to directly address the committees.”

The committee, in a joint sitting with the Leadership Expense Committee, says that Dhalla “was in breach of 10 violations of the National Leadership Rules, Leadership Vote Rules, and the Leadership Expense Rules.”

“The violations include concerns about alleged violations of the Canada Elections Act, certain other election finance matters, non-disclosure of material facts, and inaccurate financial reporting,” they added.

‘I was the only outsider in the race’

Dhalla tells tells CTV News that she learnt of her disqualification from “watching the news,” adding that as someone running for the leadership race and to be the next prime minister, “the party would have had the courtesy to inform me directly, instead of having me learn about this from media reports.”

She adds that the allegations are “fictitious” and “false,” and the disqualification is an effort from the Liberal party to keep her off the debate stage and ballot in order to “complete the coronation” for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to become the party’s leader.

“I was the only outsider in the race that was speaking about progressive policies that I believe are the need of the hour in our country,” Dhalla said. “It is very evident that the party did not like that, and they did not want me to bring those progressive policies to the debate stage in Montreal.”

Following the announcement, she posted to social media saying the decision was “disappointing,” considering it was “leaked to the media.”

“I will continue to stand up for Canadians and fight for Canada,” she added.

During her campaign, she vowed to take on U.S. President Donald Trump, saying as a businesswoman, she is best suited to negotiate with him.

She also promised a “stronger military, stronger borders,” and that Canada will “end involvement in foreign wars,” if she becomes prime minister.

The four remaining candidates are set to meet on Monday and Tuesday in a highly anticipated debate, one in French and the other in English.

The Liberals will choose their successor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on March 9.

Here’s where to watch the federal Liberal leadership debates.

‘False, fake, and fictitious allegations’

In a statement late Friday, Dhalla’s campaign alleges the Liberal Party only came to them with questions after a final $350,000 entry fee was paid – just $50,000 of the fee is refundable.

“Today is a sad and shameful day for democracy and free speech,” the statement read. “The Liberal Party has made false, fake, and fictitious allegations to complete Mark Carney’s coronation.”

Dhalla says she became Liberal Party member at age 13 and claimed she brought 100,000 new members to the party.

“But today, I realized the party was never with me,” she said. “It will take your money. It will take your support. It will take your passion and dedication. But if you are not part of the establishment—if you are an outsider fighting for real change—it will cast you aside the moment you challenge the establishment.”

With files from CTV News' Spencer Van Dyk, Daniel Otis and The Canadian Press