Liberal MP George Chahal ready to ‘get to work’ despite mailbox controversy

A video of the incident made its way across social media Tuesday after Chahal defeated Conservative incumbent Jag Sahota with 42.7 percent of the vote to her 35.6 percent.

Glenn Pennett, who owns the northeast Calgary home, told the Toronto Sun his video doorbell recorded the entire interaction, adding the flyer taken by Chahal belonged to Sahota.

Chahal’s campaign manager Randall Zalazar did not confirm whose flyer was taken but told The Post Millennial that Chahal only took the flyer because it displayed incorrect polling information.

"While dropping off polling info flyers before polls opening on Election Day, George removed a piece of campaign literature that identified an incorrect polling location for the person residing at the address," wrote Zalazar.

"All through Election Day, campaign volunteers found incorrectly labelled materials across the eastern side of the riding. Our campaign contacted Elections Canada and advised them of the issue."

Section 325 (1) of the Canada Elections Act prohibits "… prevent(ing) or impair(ing) the transmission to the public of an election advertising message without the consent of a person with authority to authorize its transmission."

Pennett said his voter registration card directed him to vote at an elementary school close to his residence.

Chahal, a former Calgary city councillor, made headlines early last month when he advertised a campaign kick-off event over a week before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s snap election call.

Trudeau conducted his first in-person interview in nearly 16 months in the riding more than a month before the writ was dropped. Trudeau denied claims that his government was in campaign mode.

After learning the election result, Chahal spoke to a large crowd of supporters, thanking them for their continued support during his tenure as City Councillor and in his bid for member of parliament.

"We sent a strong voice to City Hall to fight for equity and opportunity for northeast Calgary, and we will do the same in Ottawa," he said.

"This day could not have happened without the hard work of Liberals here for so many years," he said, reminiscing about his father's volunteerism with the party in the 1970s when he came to Canada.

"They worked tirelessly," said Chahal, owing his victory to the foundation they established for the Liberal Party in the city.

"This election was a really important election for the future of our city and our country. It was a tough fight for the last 36 days, but we have more work to do."