Star witness speaks on NES v Maggi

And public servants pop off

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THE NOMINATION QUEEN RETURNS — Veteran Liberal organizer ELIZABETH BETOWSKI — known in party circles as the “nomination queen” — took the stand this week as a key witness in federal MP and would-be leadership contender NATE ERSKINE-SMITH’s defamation lawsuit against pollster QUITO MAGGI.

The judge has yet to rule on the case, but Betowski walked me through what unfolded at small claims court in Ottawa — and she didn’t mince words about what she believes happened during Erskine-Smith’s first federal nomination contest in Beaches–East York.

Context: The case centres on Maggi’s social media posts during the 2023 Ontario Liberal leadership race, in which Erskine-Smith placed runner-up to BONNIE CROMBIE, when decade-old allegations resurfaced about voter suppression and intimidation during Erskine-Smith’s first federal nomination.

Erskine-Smith denies the claims and is seeking $35,000 in damages, arguing Maggi falsely accused him of criminal b…