Liberals file complaint against independent Edmonton–Gateway candidate’s sign

The Liberal Party of Canada is taking aim at its former candidate in Edmonton–Gateway. Now, independent candidate Rod Loyola is talking to CityNews after his former party filed a complaint with Elections Canada over these signs. 

“The logo up at the top with my initials ‘RL’, and we’ve also covered up the word Liberal with this independent sticker,” Loyola explained.

Loyola says that should be enough to distinguish his election signs from a Liberal candidate for the southeast edmonton riding, Jeremy Hoefsloot. 

Loyola — a former Alberta NDP MLA — originally ran under the Liberal banner but was booted from the party just a week into the campaign after a 2009 video surfaced of him praising Hezbollah and Hamas on social media.

The federal Liberals told CityNews they’ve filed a complaint with Canada’s election commissioner over these signs and sent notice to Loyola himself, saying it may create confusion for voters. 

Although the signs are red and have a Liberal font, Loyola says that shouldn’t matter.

“They don’t own the colour red, no political party owns any colour. And of course, they don’t own the font in which my own name is written. So my stance is that constituents are smart enough to look at the name and then look at the sticker that says independent. “

Edmonton–Gateway is expected to be an Edmonton riding to watch.

Longtime Conservative MP Tim Uppal is running for re-election.

CityNews reached out to Uppal Friday and did not hear back at this time, but he previously told CityNews he’s glad to be running in a new, redrawn riding.

“With the extra seat that’s been added to Edmonton, and a couple over all for Alberta, in general, I would say it’s good. I know it’s not perfect voter base per vote, but overall it’s a step in the right direction,” Uppal explained in a previous interview.

The Liberals had to change the Edmonton–Gateway candidate three times. Candidate Hoefsloot said, despite the late start, voters in the riding want someone who can stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump. 

“They brought me in as someone who’s young, driven, and ambitious, who can hit the ground running. I learned I was a candidate pretty much the same time as the public did,” said Hoefsloot.

There are seven candidates on the ballot in Edmonton–Gateway for election day on Monday, Apr. 28.