Calgary MLA Devinder Toor fined $15K by Elections Alberta, CFO fined $14K
A Calgary UCP MLA has been fined by Elections Alberta for accepting prohibited contributions, exceeding the nomination spending limit, failing to deposit contributions into the proper account and borrowing money from someone other than a bank.
The fines against Devinder Toor, MLA for Calgary-Falconridge, total $15,000 and are related to the 2018 nomination contest and 2019 provincial election.
The alleged improper donations related to the use of property, which was not declared.
His chief financial officer, Sahib Bhakri, was also fined $14,000 for failing to keep proper records, failing to put the contributions into the proper account, and exceeding the nomination spending limit.
A numbered company, which Toor was a director of, was also fined a total of $4,500 for making improper contributions to his campaign.
Toor issued a statement, saying he believed his campaign finances were filed properly but accepts the ruling and will pay the fine.
"I fully participated in the election commissioner’s investigation, and did so in good faith. I believed that my campaign finances were accurate as filed. But I acknowledge the commissioner’s findings that that was not in fact the case," it read.
"I should have done better to oversee full and complete compliance with the election finance laws. The fault ultimately rests with me. I accept the commissioner’s ruling and punishment as prescribed. I will be paying the fines as dictated."
Alberta's opposition NDP issued a statement on Wednesday calling on Premier Jason Kenney to "send a clear message" and for Toor to resign.
“Mr. Toor must resign, and Jason Kenney needs to eject him immediately from the government caucus for this corrupt behaviour,” said NDP Deputy Leader Sarah Hoffman.
“This is not a simple mistake. These are willful, deliberate breaches of election laws that call into question Mr. Toor’s integrity, and his ability to hold the public’s trust. Albertans should be outraged at this level of sleaziness and corruption in Jason Kenney’s UCP caucus.”
“Jason Kenney must send a clear message that this corrupt behaviour is unacceptable, and he must do it today."
Information on the penalties is available on the Elections Alberta website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.