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A federal prosecutor is challenging a Public Service Commission decision that denied her permission to seek a federal party nomination in the riding of Ottawa-Vanier to run in this year’s election.

Emilie Taman, a prosecutor with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), wants the Federal Court to set aside the decision as “unreasonable” because it fails to balance her obligations as a public servant — to be loyal and politically impartial — with her constitutional right to seek public office.

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The Association of Justice Counsel, which represents 2,700 lawyers working in government, has taken on Taman’s case.

AJC president Leonard MacKay, also a prosecutor, said the union fears the commission’s decision sets the stage for a “blanket prohibition” on federal prosecutors ever running for office.

“We fear the worst,” said MacKay. “Maybe some can’t run because they are so visible and make potentially political decisions in their prosecution work, but we want to make sure that most can do so. It’s a delicate balance of Charter rights and employee obligations.”