Although it is not a perfect ending, Cochrane Lawyer, Cyndy Morin can close the chapter on allegations made by the NDP Party during her campaign run last year for UCP nomination for the Calgary-Fish Creek riding. 

Morin who owns and practices law for Resolve Legal Group, says unbeknownst to her at the time,  a colleague let her in on the allegations that were being made about her. "They brought it to my attention that the NDP had posted on their website and put out out a news release, essentially, saying that I had taken kickbacks during my campaign, which was absolutely not true. They didn't allege that I did this or say they suspect I did this, they stated it as a statement of fact."

The unsigned letter from the NDP.

As a lawyer, Morin says the statements not only damaged her credibility as a candidate but also her reputation within the community. "Who wants to do business with someone who is potentially conducting illegal activity when they are a lawyer?!"

Learning the NDP insisted an investigation into her nomination campaign be conducted by Alberta Elections, she says the timing caused her to rescind her nomination. "The investigation started in the middle of my nomination campaign and it was going to continue past the closing date, so at that point, I decided to resign because there was no way I was going to be able to run a successful campaign."

During this time, Elections Alberta did investigate Cyndy personally, as well as her firm, only to exonerate the Cochrane lawyer from any wrongdoing. "Once I got the letter from Elections Alberta I went forward and asked the NDP if they would give me a public apology and they did nothing."

While she could have chosen not to fight back, the feisty lawyer couldn't let go; instead, Morin says she brought forth a defamation lawsuit. "Finally, last Friday (August 9), through my lawyer, I received a settlement with an apology letter. However, when I went to sign the release on Friday, I noticed I had received the letter, but there was no signature from anybody in the party taking responsibility."

While Morin wasn't necessarily surprised, she says the letter of apology is bittersweet. "My options were to get petty and send it back and have someone sign it, or just accept it and release it as it is."

Hoping the lack of a John Hancock was not intentional, Morin has decided to let bygones be bygones. "In any event, I am glad it is done. I am glad I got closure, and I am glad I got to clear my name, and I will run again in four years."

While Morin could have pushed on, dragging the case through the courts, it wouldn't have given her what she really wanted. "Had I pushed it I may have become 650,000 dollars richer through the courts, however, the courts have no jurisdiction to force somebody to give me an apology. It was more important to me to clear my name because you can't put a value on that, especially, when your reputation and professional standings ride on the fact that you're honest and have integrity."

Although she has some resolve, it will take time for her to rebuild that trust. "They were in a position of power and the fact that they could do that to somebody, to not only damage their ability to run but also their potential livelihood...quite frankly, they should be ashamed and apologetic. It is unfortunate I had to go to these measures, but so be it; maybe they will think twice before doing it to someone else in the future."

Despite everything that has happened, Morin says it hasn't deterred her from wanting to make a difference. "Initially it did, but then I thought if I don't run again or don't get involved, then we are going to have people in power that shouldn't be there. What we need is more people running, more people getting a thick skin, and saying this is not acceptable; our province deserves better. We deserve people who are going to attack issues, not people, and quite frankly, I think I would be doing more of a disservice if I didn't run again. The more good people we get in that don't turn to those tactics, the better. I encourage everyone to run. I think it is important for good people to take a stand and serve the public."