Expense reports still unfiled in St Pierre

Advertisement

Advertise with us

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/08/2019 (1699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two council members in the Village of St Pierre have failed to file a report of their municipal campaign expenditures and contributions before a grace period ended, placing their council seats in jeopardy.

This week, The Carillon followed up on a number of council members who did not file campaign expense reports by the May 22 deadline laid out in the Municipal Act.

A second deadline for elected officials with outstanding expense reports ended Monday, after a 60-day grace period ended.

St Pierre mayor Raymond Maynard and Councillor Paul Gauthier, who were both acclaimed to their seats on council, did not file a campaign finance report by the May 22 deadline.

Chief administrative officer Tina Bubenzer said the two have still not filed the reports because the village believes that those who don’t spend any money on their campaigns are not required to submit a report.

“They haven’t filed because they had no expenses, so there is nothing to report,” Bubenzer said.

According to the Municipal Act, council members who have not filed their campaign expenses by May 22 are not supposed to sit on council until a report is filed. If a report is still not filed by July 21, council members forfeit their council seats, the act states.

A provincial spokesperson confirmed to The Carillon that all candidates must file their expenses, even if they were acclaimed or spent no money on their campaign.

“All candidates who registered for a municipal election, including those who spent $0 or those who were acclaimed, must file their campaign finance statement as required by section 93.12(1) of The Municipal Act,” the spokesperson said.

“The province doesn’t track which elected members have filed. It is up to the municipality’s CAO to track and to provide notice to council members when deadlines are approaching, overdue, etc.”

Council members in the RMs of Piney, De Salaberry, La Broquerie, and the Town of Morris who had not filed expense reports in May, have since filed their expense reports.

Report Error Submit a Tip

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Local

LOAD MORE