A trustee candidate for the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board is calling for a formal investigation into election meddling.
Eric Renaud has sent a letter to the City Cleark's office along with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs requesting an investigation.
Renaud claims a letter, signed by the local Catholic school board, the Bishop of the Diocese of London and the Catholic teachers union cost him the election on October 22nd.
Renaud says the school board should not have involved itself in the election.
"I'm asking them to actually look into a potential violation of the Elections Act by the school board because as a government funded organization they are not allowed to actually register as a third party," he says.
Renaud says he's also asking the Canada Revenue Agency to probe the role of the bishop and the Diocese of London.
"The diocese is more of a federal complaint at the CRA, which I'm also exploring at this time," he says. "As a registered charity they are not allowed to engage in any political advertising."
Renaud will also be filing a Freedom of Information request over the use of finances at the catholic board related to the letter and wouldn't be surprised if the issue ends up in court.
"I'm not sure myself, although we're exploring all of our legal options, whether it be overturning it or a potential of monetary damages we're not sure exactly at this point," he says.
The school board chair, director of education, Bishop Ronald Fabbro and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association signed a letter asking the Catholic community not to support any candidate who called for a merger of the public and Catholic school board.
Renaud was the sole candidate for the Catholic board who publicly supported the proposal.
Renaud lost to Bernie Mastromattei by 430 votes to represent Wards Three and Four on the WECDSB.