Jim Karahalios CPC leadership disqualification overturned on technicality

The wrong body of the Conservative Party made the decision to disqualify Karahalios: the CRO made the decision, when in reality it should have been made by the LEOC.

As the judge made perfectly clear in his verdict, the Conservative Party did not act inappropriately in disqualifying Karahalios. The Conservative Party has said that it is "pleased" the judge found the disqualification to be "fundamentally fair."

"Mr. Karahalios status is properly left to the LEOC to adjudicate," said the ruling. "That was the contractual arrangement of the candidates with the Conservative Party. LEOC is in the position to determine if the conduct of the Mr. Karahalios was such that he should be disqualified as a candidate."

Although the Conservative Party has said it would review the decision, it could be only hours before Karahalios is disqualified again—this time, by the relevant body.

Even if the Conservative Party chooses to allow Karahalios to run—something that seems implausible—then the controversial candidate would have to raise $100,000 in two weeks.

In a statement, Karahalios said that "this morning, the Court ruled in my favour and invalidated my disqualification from the Conservative Party's leadership race, which had been imposed at Erin O'Toole's request."

"I have said that Party appointees should not be allowed to disqualify candidates and that the race should be democratically decided by Conservative members," he added.

Karahalios was initially disqualified after he made "racist, Islamophobic remarks that besmirched the expressed principles of the Conservative Party." This was directed at Erin O'Toole's campaign chair.