Former journalist drops out of Conservative nomination race, claims the process has been 'corrupted'

A former National Post journalist is bowing out of the race to carry the Conservative Party banner in a Toronto-area riding because she says she has "clear evidence of a corrupted process."

In a social media post Thursday, Sabrina Maddeaux said she's suspending her race for the party's nomination in Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill. She said she has been "the clear target of highly unethical, and potential illegal, efforts to sway the vote" because another candidate allegedly had the party's membership list before she did.

"Sadly, I no longer have faith in the election's integrity," she said.

"I call on the Conservative Party of Canada to secure our democratic nomination process, protect our values and stand up to corrupt campaigns that show disdain for both."

Maddeaux did not say which candidate allegedly had the membership list.

She suggested a mass email sent to party members in the riding disparaging her candidacy was evidence that someone unfairly had access to the names and contact details of local Conservatives in contravention of party rules.

A spokesperson for the party told CBC News Maddeaux's allegations about a competitor and the membership list are "completely false."

"It's common for the party to receive complaints from nomination candidates about their competitors over suspicions of wrongdoing and the use of lists," Sarah Fischer said.

"In fact, we received a complaint about Ms. Maddeaux's campaign sending out an email to current and former members of the party when she should not have had access to a membership list."

Conservative sources who spoke to CBC News on the condition they not be named said Maddeaux sold only about 50 memberships in the nomination race — a low number that means she likely had no chance of winning the nomination.

"That's not the case," Maddeaux said in an interview when asked about the claim regarding her membership sales. "We definitely sold more than 50 memberships." She said later her campaign has sold "over 200" memberships.

Maddeaux said she's not speaking out now because she was poised to lose. She said she would have gone quietly if she lost a contest she perceived as fair.

"This is not the way I wanted things to go," she said. "It's so difficult and heartbreaking. We were actually very confident in our campaign and our chances of winning."

Asked whether she still supports party leader Pierre Poilievre, Maddeaux said she was inspired to run because of the leader's "vision for change."