Liberal party drops B.C. candidate due to ‘malicious’ harassment allegation

David Screech, the former mayor of View Royal and acclaimed Liberal candidate for the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding, says the party sent him a letter Tuesday accusing him of stalking and harassing someone – allegations he denies. (Facebook)

The Liberal Party of Canada has dismissed one of its election candidates on Vancouver Island, alleging he breached the party’s nomination rules.

David Screech, the former mayor of View Royal and acclaimed Liberal candidate for the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke riding, says the party sent him a letter Tuesday accusing him of stalking and harassing someone – allegations he denies.

“Anyone who knows me knows that these allegations are complete nonsense and were made in a malicious manner,” Screech said in a statement posted on social media Wednesday.

“And with no opportunity to plead my case to a tribunal of some kind, or even the courtesy of a phone call, this letter was sent early this morning,” said the statement, which was accompanied by a copy of a letter from Liberal party campaign director Andrew Bevan dated Jan. 29.

The letter says the national campaign co-chairs reviewed Screech’s candidacy and recommended revoking his designation as a qualified nomination contestant in the next election.

“Unfortunately, based on that recommendation, your status as a candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada has been revoked,” the letter said.

“I appreciate this news will come as a disappointment to you and your campaign team.”

‘I am shaken’

Liberal spokesperson Parker Lund did not respond to specific questions about Screech’s removal as the party’s candidate.

“In accordance with our national nomination rules, Mr. Screech will no longer be the Liberal candidate in Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke,” Lund reiterated in an emailed statement.

“The nomination process for a new candidate will proceed in due course and be fully in line with our national nomination rules,” Lund added.

Screech was tapped to be the Liberal candidate in the next federal election in November 2024, according to an acclamation notice on the party’s website.

“I am shaken by this turn of events,” Screech said in his statement.

“I will get over it and carry on but it is hard to be treated with such callous disregard by a party that you have supported your whole life, a party that made you jump through multiple hoops to be their candidate in the first place, not to mention a $1,000 fee,” he said.

“Clearly, the Liberal party is in disarray,” he concluded, adding that he has asked that his fee be returned.

Screech served four terms as a View Royal councillor and two terms as the town’s mayor before his defeat in the last municipal election.