N.S. councillors violated Elections Act with Liberal donations, probe finds

The report found the contributions that were illegally reimbursed had been accepted by the Liberal Electoral District Association for Cape Breton-Richmond, but then returned to the Finance Department.

Chief Electoral Officer Richard Temporale said in a news release that Elections Nova Scotia is also launching an amnesty period for reporting similar breaches of the act in the past.

“It is unknown how widespread the practice of organizations reimbursing individuals who attend political fundraising events might be,” says the agency.

The agency says it understands corporations, unions or municipalities often reimburse employees or members for such events on the grounds that their attendance “fosters mutually beneficial community and corporate stewardship.”

However, it says this doesn’t apply to political fundraisers, because the public needs to know who is providing financial contributions and the amounts any individual has contributed in a given year.

The donations were singled out in a Grant Thornton forensic audit of municipal spending in Richmond County.

Former warden Steve Sampson had suggested in an email to Richmond councillors that they could be reimbursed. Sampson did not re-offer in last fall’s municipal elections, but was fired from his job with the Nova Scotia Liberal caucus on Nov. 1.

Municipal Affairs Minister Zach Churchill has said the government is now considering options including spot audits of select municipal units, or appointing a municipal auditor general.

The Canadian Press

Note to readers: CORRECTS amount paid to $50 from $300 in para 2

by Canadian Press

N.S. councillors violated Elections Act with Liberal donations, probe finds

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