COVID (and a baby) hold up release of election candidate financial info

Almost eight months since Sault MP Terry Sheehan was re-elected last fall, and almost four months since local party officials were required to submit their financial statements to Elections Canada, we still don't have a complete picture from which to follow the monies received and spent.

Of five candidates who ran in Sault Ste. Marie in the 43rd General Election on Oct. 21, 2019, financial filings for only three have been posted on the Elections Canada website.

The missing statements are those of two campaigns from the political right: Conservative Party of Canada candidate Sonny Spina and Amy Zuccato of the People's Party of Canada.

The original deadline for official agents to make the mandatory filings to Elections Canada was Feb. 21.

The absence of the Conservative and People's Party statements is being blamed in part on the COVID-19 emergency, and partly on the addition of a beautiful baby girl to the family of a local campaign organizer.

Candidates are required to submit a signed statement of expenses to their official agent within three months after election day.

One month after that, their official agent is required to submit a complete electoral campaign return to Elections Canada, including revenues and expenses.

If a candidate accepted contributions or spent more than $10,000 or received 10 per cent or more of votes cast, an auditor's report must also be submitted.

Amy Zuccato - People's Party

Zuccato says she definitely did her part, sending the required papers to her official agent well in advance of the deadline.

The local People's Party riding association says its financial agent, George Browne of Montreal River Harbour, signed the paperwork on May 29 and submitted it to Elections Canada prior to an extended deadline of May 31, receiving an electronic confirmation of receipt.

The Elections Canada website says it posts financial statements immediately.

So why hasn't Zuccato's statement been posted?

Elections Canada confirms to SooToday that it's been experiencing delays, primarily related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Yes, we have advised that there may be delays posting some statements – candidate campaign returns in particular – due to the volume that staff have to handle while working from home," says Natasha Gauthier, assistant director for media relations and issues management.

Other delays, Gauthier says, can occur when a candidate submits some materials by regular mail instead of electronically.

"We can't confirm if it was received or publish it, since nobody is in the office at the moment to process mailed returns. The political financing team is working on having some staff be allowed to go into the office area for this purpose."

"Another potential cause of delay is if a candidate was asked to send follow-up documents, which can happen if any part of their submission was missing or incorrectly filed. We don't post returns until they're complete," Gauthier tells us.

Elections Canada has been liberally granting deadline extensions because of the coronavirus situation, she adds.

Automatic extensions until May 31 were given to all candidates who said they needed more time to file, and that has recently been extended further until June 30.

Sonny Spina - Conservative Party

As for Conservative candidate Sonny Spina, the issues are clearer.

Spina also says he filed his statement of expenses on time to his official agent – Shawn Bullock.

Bullock tells us accountants are extremely busy these days handling COVID-related issues for clients and he's had difficulty getting the work done, compounded by the arrival of a new baby in his family.

Elections Canada has granted an extension.

Bullock had  expected to have the paperwork done this past week, but Spina told SooToday on Friday that they're stilling waiting on the auditor's report.

The following is a SooToday-compiled summary of what's known so far about campaign finances from the Oct. 21, 2019 federal election.

This summary includes statements provided to us from the People's Party of Canada, so far not posted by Elections Canada.

Aside from the missing Tory information, Liberal Sheehan's campaign was the biggest local spender, chalking up $77,577 in expenses.

The Liberals spent more than $10,000 on campaign management salaries and consulting fees.

Sara McCleary, a mother of two balancing three jobs without benefits, was paid a $3,012 salary to run for the NDP.

Shawn Bullock advices that Spina – a city police officer – also received some similar "help" during the election.

Some readers may note apparent discrepancies between campaign contributions and expenditures. Be advised that cash is often transferred during elections between federal political parties and local riding associations, and our summary does not include those numbers.  

Sara McCleary - New Democratic Party

Total number of contributors - 69

Total amount of contributions - $16,132

Total amount of returned contributions - $2,000

Election expenses limit - $102,009

Total amount of election expenses subject to limit - $23,511

Total amount of travel and living expenses - $182

Total amount of other campaign expenses and outflows - $10,188

Major contributors included: Michael Bennett ($1,600), Ray Dawson ($1,600), Bonnie Ostroski ($1,600), Anna Robson ($700)

Candidate salary - $3,012

Ray Dawson was paid $2,000 as fundraiser salary

Campaign manager Thomas Forget received a total of $1,804 in salary and consulting fees

Geordon McLean - Green Party of Canada

Total number of contributors - 4

Total amount of contributions - $950

Election expenses limit - $102,009

Total amount of election expenses subject to limit - $1,428

Total amount of other campaign expenses and outflows - $15

Local supporters were Bruce J. Lenten ($350) and Diana J. Callaghan ($300)

Terry Sheehan - Liberal Party of Canada

Total number of contributors - 34

Total amount of contributions - $12,175

Total amount of returned contributions - $350

Election expenses limit - $82,672

Total amount of election expenses subject to limit - $77,577

Total amount of travel and living expenses - $121

Total amount of other campaign expenses and outflows - $9,310

Major donors were: Wayne Chorney ($1,000), Jeffrey Elgie ($1,000), Joseph Wright ($1,000) and Andre Bobenic ($750)

Campaign manager Aisling MacKnight was paid $6,000 in salary and consulting fees.

Other consulting fees were paid to Jaclynee Hamel ($500) and Scott Morphet ($3,500)

Sonny Spina - Conservative Party of Canada

Not filed as of Friday, June 12, 2020, Further coverage will be posted by SooToday when these filings are received. 

Amy Zuccato - People's Party of Canada -

Total number of contributors - 12

Total amount of contributions - $1,190

Total amount of election expenses - $994

Top donors were Bruce Earle ($500 plus $913 in non-monetary contributions), Catherine Bayne ($60 plus $332 in non-monetary contributions) and Dave Selvers ($250).