EDMONTON—The leader of the Alberta Party who was banned from running for public office for filing financial papers late will now have his day in court.

Stephen Mandel is to appear in Court of Queen’s Bench on Friday afternoon for a judicial review of a ruling from Elections Alberta that says he can’t run for public office for the next five years — including in the approaching election.

His infraction over financial papers, relating to his nomination race in the summer for the riding of Edmonton-McClung, is at the centre of his judicial review. Mandel says the guidelines around the filing time line for the paperwork were unclear and that his chief financial officer was sick at the time.

Five other Alberta Party candidates who were poised to run in the next election had bans slapped on them as well. The bans came down earlier this month.

In a recent interview with Star Edmonton, Mandel said he was feeling “incredibly confident.”

“What I’m most buoyed about is the response that we’ve been getting from people and my candidates,” he said.

He did not discuss his thoughts about a backup plan should his ban stay in place.

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Alberta Party leader off to court over five-year ban from public office run

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Elections Alberta informed the party that Mandel filed his financial disclosure outside the four-month time line given to do so. His nomination contest started on May 12, 2018, meaning he would have to file by Sept. 12, 2018.

The financial statement is dated Sept. 24, but the Alberta Party team says the rules were unclear whether the four months started when a candidate is nominated or when the vote is concluded. In Mandel’s case, the latter situation would mean the four-month period started about two months after May 12.

Mandel said he has been hearing from supporters that the ban is “ridiculous” because the penalties for allegedly filing late were too stiff.

Mandel maintains he didn’t file late.

“We were on time, from our position,” he said.

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He said they have court documents that will show they were on time filing their financial papers.

Mandel is scheduled to be in court at 2 p.m.

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