Compliance Audit Committee

The Compliance Audit Committee reviews and makes decisions regarding applications for compliance audits of campaign finances for Council candidates and registered third-party advertisers in municipal elections and by-elections.

The Committee’s responsibilities include:

• Determining whether an elector’s application for a compliance audit should be granted or rejected

• Appointing a qualified auditor if an application is approved

• Receiving and reviewing the auditor’s report

• Deciding whether legal proceedings should be initiated where a contravention appears to have occurred

• Determining whether audit costs should be recovered from the applicant if no contravention is found and the application lacked reasonable grounds

The Committee also reviews reports from the Clerk identifying contributors who may have exceeded contribution limits and determines whether legal action should be considered.

• An application must be submitted to the Clerk of the Municipality within 90 days after the relevant financial filing deadline.

• The Clerk will forward the application to the Committee within 10 days of receipt.

• Within 30 days of receiving the application, the Committee will determine whether there are reasonable grounds to grant the audit.

• If approved, the Committee will appoint an auditor to conduct a review of the candidate’s or third-party advertiser’s campaign finances.

• The auditor will complete the audit and submit a report to the candidate, Council, and the Clerk. The Clerk will forward the report to the Committee within 10 days.

• The Committee will consider the report within 30 days and decide whether to commence legal proceedings if a contravention appears to have occurred.

• If the report finds no contravention, the Committee must determine whether there were reasonable grounds for the original request. If not, Council may recover the audit costs from the applicant.