After a lengthy discussion, the City of Ottawa’s election compliance audit committee voted Tuesday afternoon not to prosecute Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard for failing to accurately report campaign finances by $310.98. Read MoreAn independent audit by OXARO found that Menard understated his 2022 campaign expenses, but was still under the Municipal Elections Act limit.
An independent audit by OXARO found that Menard understated his 2022 campaign expenses, but was still under the Municipal Elections Act limit.
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After a lengthy discussion, the City of Ottawa’s election compliance audit committee voted Tuesday afternoon not to prosecute Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard for failing to accurately report campaign finances by $310.98.
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Committee chair Timothy Cullen said the committee agreed with the auditor’s conclusion, which stated there was an apparent violation of the Municipal Elections Act.
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However, Cullen said Menard’s campaign expenses were within the spending limit set out in the Municipal Elections Act, which the audit report also noted.
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The Evening Citizen
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“In the particular circumstances before us, the committee considers the apparent violation to be de minimis (too small to be considered) and that commencing legal proceedings is not warranted … The dollar amount, $310.98, is fairly low,” Cullen said.
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“The under-reporting did not result in Mr. Menard exceeding the maximum contribution limit for a candidate and/or spouse.”
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The committee’s decision came after an independent audit by OXARO found that Menard had understated his election-sign expenses for the 2022 campaign.
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According to the report, the amount recorded in Menard’s campaign financial statements was “inaccurate and is an apparent non-compliance” of the Municipal Elections Act because he did not adequately report that he reused leftover materials from 2018.
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The audit found Menard filed $1,412.50 for election expenses for 250 small signs from the 2018 campaign when he should have filed $1,723.48 for 240 small signs and 10 large signs, a difference of $310.98.
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However, despite that irregularity, the auditors said, Menard did not exceed the Municipal Elections Act spending limits. According to Menard’s campaign filing, he spent $27,199.10, and the recalculation increased that to $27,508.90.
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Municipal election candidates are permitted to reuse leftover materials such as campaign signs or office supplies, but they must establish current market value for those materials based on what it would cost to purchase them again, and that current market value must be filed as a campaign expense.
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The OXARO report also noted this was the only inaccuracy in Menard’s campaign financial statement. It did not recommend any penalties because that was the committee’s responsibility.
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