Article content material
Former Wildrose Independence Social gathering of Alberta (WIPA) chief Paul Hinman has filed a lawsuit towards the “rogue board” of governors he claims unlawfully turfed him.
In a press release of declare filed in Calgary Court docket of King’s Bench, Hinman seeks $750,000 in damages towards the occasion’s present board of governors, together with president Rick Northey.
Article content material
The lawsuit additionally seeks $250,000 in damages for Danny Hozack, who the declare states assisted Hinman in creating a brand new political occasion, the Wildrose Loyalty Coalition.
Article content material
The courtroom motion follows a lawsuit filed by the board final September towards Hinman and Hozack.
The declare states Hinman, a former chief of the Wildrose Social gathering who was succeeded by present Premier Danielle Smith in that position, was compelled out as chief of WIPA partially by the actions of Northey.
It says a media interview given by Northey following Hinman’s loss in a March 15, 2022, byelection within the provincial driving of Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche violated occasion bylaws and sullied the then-leader.
Among the many feedback attributed to Northey had been that he would examine Hinman following his “dismal efficiency” within the byelection and he would “be directing the provincial nomination committee to open an investigation to look into the efficiency of (Hinman) and his group,” the lawsuit states.
Northey additionally purportedly mentioned an area candidate would have fared higher, and Hinman’s group assured WIPA membership “that his presence within the race would give us a combating likelihood.”
“In response to Northey’s inappropriate and disparaging interview, quite a few outstanding WIPA members and native constituency affiliation . . . presidents, wrote to the board calling for Northey’s resignation or dismissal for violating the occasion’s ethics and bylaws,” the declare says.
Article content material
When no motion adopted, Ponoka constituency affiliation president Tami Tatlock lodged a proper criticism towards Northey and requested his misconduct be investigated by the Social gathering Arbitration Committee.
However Tatlock was knowledgeable by board member Wes Caldwell there was no PAC in existence and the ultimate authority for disciplinary actions would relaxation with the board, which included Northey amongst its members, it says.
“Because of the board’s refusal to self-discipline Northey, regardless of his open public misconduct . . . Ms. Tatlock and different WIPA members started to moderately suspect corruption, misconduct and dangerous religion dealing among the many members of the board,” the lawsuit alleges.
It additionally says makes an attempt by members to reinstate Hinman as chief on the occasion’s annual common assembly in July 2022 had been thwarted by the board.
An announcement of defence disputing the unproven allegations contained within the declare has not been filed.
Hinman was twice elected to the provincial legislature, in 2004 as chief of the Alberta Alliance Social gathering and once more in 2009 as chief of the Wildrose Social gathering.
Twitter: @KMartinCourts
