Judge rejects challenge of Manitoba's Progressive Conservative leadership vote

A judge has rejected a court challenge of the vote that made Heather Stefanson leader of Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives and the province's premier.

A judge has rejected a court challenge of the vote that made Heather Stefanson leader of Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives and the province's premier.

Shelly Glover, who came up just short with 49 per cent of the ballots on Oct. 30, alleged there were voting problems and wanted the court to toss out the results.

Justice James Edmond said Friday that Glover failed to prove any alleged irregularities affected the outcome.

Lawyers for the party had told court that Glover had no evidence anything happened to affect the voting results.

They also said scrutineers from both the Glover and Stefanson campaigns oversaw all ballots as they were counted.

Three days after the vote, Stefanson was sworn in as premier to replace Brian Pallister, who had retired. Glover refused to concede and launched her court challenge soon after.

Glover's lawyer, Dave Hill, pointed to daily spreadsheets the party gave to both campaigns as mail-in ballots were coming through in the latter part of October. The sheets were meant to keep track of which party members had voted.