RCMP charges ex-staffer for Barrie mayor hopeful with mischief
Former MP Alex Nuttall is running for mayor of Barrie as one of his former staffers is accused of hacking into the Erin O'Toole campaign's computer data during the 2020 Conservative Party of Canada Leadership race.
The RCMP charged Dion Ahwai, 30, with mischief.
Court documents reveal the Toronto man is accused of accessing a secure zoom account belonging to the O'Toole campaign between June 7 and June 12, 2020, allegedly compromising the secure computer account.
Ahwai served as a political staffer for former Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MP Alex Nuttall from at least 2016 until 2019.
After four years in Ottawa, Nuttall announced in 2019 that he was retiring from federal politics, citing family reasons.
In 2020, Nuttall became campaign manager for Conservative Party of Canada leadership candidate Peter MacKay.
According to The Canadian Press, in June 2020, the O'Toole campaign accused the rival MacKay camp of accessing and downloading videos that it said contained sensitive strategic information.
The Canadian Press report said the O'Toole campaign alleged it detected several unusual sign-ins to the account and multiple downloads of, what it called, confidential information.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
CTV News reached out to MP Erin O'Toole's constituency office for comment and was told, "As this matter is before the courts, Mr. O'Toole will not be commenting."
The RCMP charged Ahwai earlier this month.
Nuttall wouldn't say what, if any, Ahwai's role was in the 2020 MacKay leadership campaign.
Nuttall declined an interview with CTV News. Instead, a spokesperson released a statement saying, "I can confirm that Mr. Ahwai, a person living with disabilities, worked for me when I served in Her Majesty's Official Opposition as Shadow Minister for Persons with Disabilities."
Nuttall served in that role until 2019.
The statement continues, "The Peter MacKay campaign has already commented publicly on this matter."
As for Nuttall's campaign for Barrie mayor, Nuttall added, "Mr. Ahwai is not currently and hasn't been employed or working on my campaign. As is standard, I will not be commenting further on any matter before the courts and haven't been involved in that process."
Nuttall is one of several local political heavyweights in the race to become Barrie's new mayor in late October.
Ahwai did not respond to several requests by CTV News for comment on the mischief charge, his work with Nuttall or involvement in MacKay's Conservative leadership bid.
The accused is scheduled to be back in court on Aug. 4 in Toronto.
The allegations against him have not been tested in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
'It’s discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
BREAKING Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.