Compliance Audit Committee

Purpose

The Compliance Audit Committee is responsible for considering applications when an elector believes that a candidate or registered third party has breached election campaign finance rules. The committee is established in accordance with the Municipal Election Act, 1996 ("the Act").

Mandate

The Compliance Audit Committee will:

• Review applications for a compliance audit of any candidate or registered third party if the application was received in accordance with the requirements of the Act 
• Review report(s) from the Clerk for any contributor who appears to have exceeded any of the contribution limits for candidates and registered third parties
• Determine whether the application should be granted or rejected within 30 days of receiving the application 
• Appoint a licensed auditor to conduct a compliance audit of the candidate's or registered third party's election campaign finances, if an application is granted 
• Consider the auditor's report within 30 days of receiving it and may begin a legal proceeding against the candidate or registered third party if the report concludes that they appear to have contravened a provision of the Act relating to election campaign finances

 Applying for an audit

If you believe that a candidate or registered third party has breached election campaign finance rules and you would like to request an audit, the following process will apply:

• You must complete the application form and send it to the city clerk within 90 days of the required candidate or registered third party financial filing date under the Act
• Within 10 days after receiving the application, the city clerk will forward it to the Compliance Audit Committee 
• Within 30 days of receiving the application, the Compliance Audit Committee will consider the application 
• The city clerk will let you and the candidate or registered third party know when the committee will consider the application 
• If the committee grants the application, they will appoint an auditor to promptly audit the candidate's or registered third party's campaign finances to determine whether they complied with the provisions of the Act 
• If you do not agree with the committee's decision, you can appeal to the Superior Court of Justice within 15 days after the decision is made 
• Once the auditor has completed the audit, the auditor will provide a report to the candidate or registered third party, the city clerk, and you 
• Within 10 days after receiving the auditor's report, the city clerk will forward a copy to the committee 

The committee will consider the auditor's report within 30 days of receiving it and determine whether legal proceedings should be commenced against the candidate or registered third party.

Meetings

Meetings are held on an as-needed basis. The meetings of the committee are open to the public but the committee may deliberate in private.

Raising issues

If you have an issue or concern, contact us.

Appointments

Members of the committee remain on the committee for the duration of the current council term of office.