The city’s Election Compliance Audit Committee found “reasonable grounds” to proceed with requesting an audit of Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc’s 2022 election campaign finances.
Following a motion the five-member committee unanimously approved during Thursday’s meeting, KPMG is being enlisted to conduct a third-party audit.
After the meeting, Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc told Sudbury.com that he welcomes the audit, adding with a shrug, “There’s nothing there.”
It’s unclear when the auditor’s report will return to the committee, chair Peter McMullen told Sudbury.com after the meeting, noting the Municipal Elections Act doesn’t set a timeline.
The committee is mandated with holding a meeting within 30 days of receiving the auditor’s report, at which they’ll decide on how to proceed.
If Leduc’s finances were to be found in contravention, McMullen said the committee would decide whether to proceed with prosecution. It’s a subjective decision, he said, noting a “de minimis” contravention might yield no action taken.
At issue is a Sept. 11, 2022, Grandparents’ Day event at Chartwell Westmount on William Retirement Residence.
Both resident Anastasia Rioux and Leduc’s political rival, Christopher Duncanson-Hales, issued complaints to the committee, flagging the event as a campaign event for Leduc which should have been included in his campaign finances.
During Thursday’s two-hour deliberation, Rioux pointed out:
- Leduc’s vehicle, with a campaign image on it, was parked at the entrance to the property during the event.
- Leduc and a few of his supporters wore “Team Leduc” jackets while at the event.
- A videographer Leduc hired for $750 filmed footage of Leduc at the event for a campaign video.
- Some flyers advertised the event as being sponsored by the Ward 11 CAN (Community Action Network), while others advertised it as being sponsored by Ward 11.
- In a video of the event, an emcee credits “Team Leduc” for organizing the event and providing “All your food, all your prizes, compliments of Bill Leduc putting this together.” Leduc is seen being handed the microphone shortly after, and he doesn’t question the emcee’s statement.
Some accusations, including the use of city resources for a campaign event, apply to municipal bylaws and fall outside the committee’s jurisdiction, whose scope is solely campaign finances. The videographer is accounted for in Leduc’s financial statement.
In making their decision to proceed with a third-party audit, the committee focused on the fact that Leduc said he “personally paid” for items at Grandparents’ Day, including prizes.
Asked whether these were in his financial statement, Leduc said, “I don’t believe so.”
The key question now, which doesn’t yet have an official answer, is whether Grandparents’ Day is considered a campaign event for Leduc. If so, his financial contributions to the event should have been included in his campaign finances.
As he has since critics began questioning his involvement in Grandparents’ Day last year, Leduc said during Thursday’s meeting that it wasn’t a campaign event, but a community event for people of all ages. In his submission to the committee, Leduc included various letters from people involved in the event who attest to it not being a campaign event.
“I’m very appalled that this group has put a dark cloud over Grandparents’ Day,” he told the committee, later adding that a group of opponents have “put a target” on his back.
“There are no expenses here for Grandparents’ Day, there is no need to have expenses for Grandparents’ Day.”
During his remarks on Thursday, Leduc said Duncanson-Hales was seen campaigning at the event and being asked to leave because the event wasn’t about politics.
Duncanson-Hales attended Thursday’s meeting in the council chambers gallery, and told Sudbury.com afterward that Leduc’s account is accurate, and that he was asked to leave for “mainstreeting.”
Mainstreeting, he explained, is where they introduce themselves, hand out a candidate card and seek the support of people during public events..
“If this were a community event, I should be able to campaign as we both did at the Labour Day picnic at Morel Park,” he said, an event where numerous politicians were seen mainstreeting.
“I left the event convinced that it was a private event designed to exclusively promote Mr. Leduc's campaign, thereby constituting a campaign activity.”
While Leduc’s campaign expenses go under the microscope of a KPMG audit, some candidates have still yet to file their statements. The deadline to do so was March 31, but they can clear their default status if they file by April 28 at 2 p.m., alongside a late filing fee of $500.
Last year’s candidates who have yet to file their financial statements with the city include mayoral candidates Don Gravelle and Devin Labranche, Ward 1 candidate Mark Facendi, Ward 4 candidate Alice Norquay, Ward 6 candidate Scott Seguin, Ward 7 candidate Randy Hazlett and Ward 8 candidate Bill McElree.
Ward 8 candidate Gordon Drysdale was also previously reported as tardy, and filed his statements on April 13, revealing no money was raised or spent.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.