EDMONTON—An independent Crown prosecutor has been appointed to advise the RCMP during its investigation into allegations of voting irregularities during the leadership race that put Jason Kenney in charge of the Alberta’s United Conservative Party.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the head of Alberta’s Crown prosecution service, Eric Tolppanen, said it had appointed an Ontario Crown attorney who would be independent from elected officials.

The statement doesn’t name the extra-provincial prosecutor.

Arranged through Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General, the person won’t oversee the investigation, but will provide police with advice if needed. A media relations person with the Ontario ministry couldn’t immediately provide Star Edmonton with the name of the individual when contacted Wednesday morning.

With the appointment, Alberta’s Crown prosecution service is no longer involved and won’t be providing further information regarding the situation, Tolppanen’s statement said.

The RCMP is carrying out an investigation into allegations of voter fraud during the UCP’s leadership race in 2017, which Premier Jason Kenney won.

At least two ministers have been interviewed by the police during the investigation, Alberta Solicitor General Doug Schweitzer and Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda, but both have said they aren’t under investigation.

Read more:

RCMP contacted about alleged mass voter fraud in Jason Kenney’s United Conservative Party leadership run

Former UCP campaign manager fined for ‘obstruction of an investigation’

Jason Kenney knew about UCP ‘kamikaze’ affair before leadership race, documents given to investigators say

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Read more about: