British Columbia Premier Ujjal Dosanjh announces a provincial election for May 16 on the steps of Government House in Victoria, Wednesday, Apr.18, 2001.Debra Brash/The Canadian Press
Vancouver South Liberal candidate Ujjal Dosanjh lodged a complaint with several government agencies on Friday over an endorsement of his Conservative rival by a man who was acquitted of charges in the Air India terror bombings.
On Friday, Mr. Dosanjh accused Conservative Wai Young of elections violations for meeting with Ripudaman Singh Malik before parents and teachers at a Khalsa School run by a charity that Mr. Malik helps govern.
Mr. Dosanjh's letter to Elections Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency and the B.C. Ministry of Education points out the school is sponsored by the Satnam Education Society of BC, which is listed as a registered charity.
"Canada Revenue Agency rules prohibit registered charities from engaging in activities which `can reasonably be construed as intending to influence the outcome of the election.' "
The letter the former B.C. premier sent also notes the school receives funding from the B.C. government.
Mr. Dosanjh also said there was a larger question about Ms. Young's judgement, "hobnobbing with the likes of Mr. Malik, who has admitted links to the Air India bombers."
Mr. Malik, a Vancouver businessman, was acquitted of criminal charges in the 1985 bombings that killed 331 people with two separate bombs aimed at Air India. Another man, Ajaib Singh Bagri, was also acquitted.
Evidence entered during the trial revealed Mr. Malik provided financial assistance to the family of Inderjit Singh Reyat, the only man convicted in the bombing. Mr. Reyat pleaded guilty to manslaughter for supplying parts to make the bombs that brought down an Air India jet.
Ms. Young has lived in Vancouver all her life, Mr. Dosanjh noted.
"She couldn't have been ignorant of Mr. Malik, Mr. Malik is an instantly recognizable face to those who have followed the news in British Columbia over the last 25 years."
In a statement released late Friday, Ms. Young strongly denied any involvement with Mr. Malik.
"I was invited to visit the Khalsa School by the school's principal, not Ripudaman Singh Malik," Ms. Young said in the statement. "Had I known he would have been present or was involved with the school I never would have attended."
"No one involved with this school or Ripudaman Singh Malik is involved in my campaign nor have I ever asked for his support."