More than three years after his alleged election rule breaches, there’s still no word on the legal case against Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc.
“There are no details we can share at this time other than to say the independent prosecutor retained by the committee is reviewing the matter,” a city spokesperson said this week.
Sudbury.com sought clarity from city spokespeople in reaction to the city calling a sudden meeting of the Election Compliance Audit Committee Meeting for 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The same as with the committee’s previous meeting on Sept. 11, the meeting is closed to the public, with the only item on the agenda “to deal with one solicitor/client privilege, litigation or potential litigation item regarding a compliance audit.”
At issue in Leduc’s 2022 campaign finances is a Sept. 11, 2022, Grandparents’ Day event at Chartwell Westmount on William Retirement Residence. Leduc has been accused of using it as a campaign event, which he denies. As such, it was not factored into his campaign finances for that year’s civic election.
The accusations were made by political opponents soon afterward, and reiterated with a formal complaint to the Election Compliance Audit Committee the following year.
The committee concluded there were “reasonable grounds” to determine Leduc broke the rules, which a third-party audit by KPMG reaffirmed last year.
In July 2024, the committee determined the matter should go to court.
Those convicted of an offence may be subject to a fine of up to $25,000, become ineligible to vote or run in the next general election, face up to six months in prison and forfeit their office if the judge finds they committed the offence knowingly.
Although a timeline has not been provided, the province notes that prosecution related to the 2022 election must be commenced before Nov. 15, 2026. The next municipal election will be held on Oct. 26, 2026.
Meanwhile, Leduc filed a $450,000 defamation suit against the city and Anastasia Rioux, a resident who filed the complaint against him with the committee. The case was dismissed, and Leduc recently filed a legal motion seeking legal costs through a lawyer who allegedly ghosted him.
Leduc has maintained that he has been treated unfairly, and the Election Compliance Audit Committee’s written notice of decision notes that through Leduc’s written submissions and those of his lawyer, Tim Harmar, Leduc “conceded that certain actions did occur, but has not expressed any contrition or remorse for the apparent contraventions.”
Rioux estimates her legal expenses at approximately $35,000, and the city’s estimated legal fees have been $50,000.
The city also spent $69,888.08 plus HST on the third-party KPMG audit of Leduc's campaign finances.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.