MOOSE JAW — City hall has provided a glimpse into how much money every council candidate spent during the 2024 municipal election, with the six successful candidates spending a combined $16,422.25.
All candidates must file how much money they spent and received during a civic election to ensure the election is transparent and candidates are kept accountable, according to Election Campaign Disclosure and Spending Limits Bylaw No. 5542. T.
Section 2 of the bylaw contains a formula to determine the campaign expense limit based on Moose Jaw’s population, which was 33,665 people according to the 2021 census, explained an April 7 city council report.
Therefore, the campaign limit for mayoral candidates was 75 cents per capita times the population for an upper limit of $25,248.75, while the maximum campaign expenses for councillor candidates was 33 per cent of mayoral candidates, for an upper limit of $8,330.09.
The bylaw also stipulates that councillor candidates must file their declaration within three months of the election and mayoral candidates must file within four months. All candidates must adhere to a spending limit and disclose any donations or gifts in kind that exceed $200, while anyone with excess funds must say how they will use the remaining amounts.
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Successful councillor candidates who fail to file their financial paperwork within the three months or lie on their disclosures can be prosecuted, and if convicted, removed from office, the report said. Unsuccessful candidates who fail to submit a campaign disclosure forfeit their campaign deposit.
Twenty-one of 24 councillor candidates submitted their disclosure statements by the Feb. 14 deadline — John Adams, Scott Montgomery and Tracy Zimmerman did not — while , except for Mike Simpkins, the document continued.
No candidate exceeded the spending limits, while one — Murdock — had surplus contributions that he donated to charities, the report noted. Moreover, city hall returned the deposit funds to 25 of the 29 candidates, while it retained the fees of the four non-compliant candidates.
Anyone who believes a candidate filed a false, misleading or incomplete disclosure statement must submit their complaints to the Ombudsman Saskatchewan Office for review, the document continued.
Also, the city’s returning officer “may refer suspicious or irregular statements” to the Ombudsman’s office, although the returning officer has not received any complaints about any candidates’ disclosure forms.
“If a candidate elected to office is found to have contravened any provision of the bylaw, they are deemed disqualified and must resign immediately,” the report said.
The provincial court may also prosecute that person, and if convicted, levy a fine up to $5,000, the document added. Disqualified members may not run for office for a minimum of 12 years, based on The Cities Act.
Successful councillor candidates’ expenses
Coun. Patrick Boyle spent $4,563.75 during the campaign — the most by a councillor candidate — including $262.50 on advertising and $4,301.25 on signs.
Meanwhile, the campaign contributions he received included $1,000 from Sigma Automation Ltd., $500 from Simpson Seeds, $500 from Peak Veterinary Health P.C. Ltd., $500 from Cypress Paving Ltd., and $500 from Monica Preston, for a total of $3,000.
His total campaign contributions received were $3,898.
Coun. Dawn Luhning spent $4,397.74, including $262.50 on advertising, $3,636.34 on brochures, $399 on signs and $99.90 on a website update.
Meanwhile, she did not receive any campaign contributions.
Coun. Jamey Logan spent $2,162.92 during his campaign, including $1,135.05 on advertising and $1,027.86 on brochures.
Meanwhile, he did not receive any campaign contributions.
Coun. Heather Eby spent $2,141.91, including $1,022.83 on brochures, $100 on photos, $707.07 on signs and $49.51 on stationery.
Meanwhile, the contributions she received included $500 from Terry Johnson, $500 from Brent and Charlotte Suer, $250 from Maureen Simpson and $200 from Elaine Dionne, for a total of $1,450.
Coun. Chris Warren spent $1,619.24 on his campaign, including $267.50 on advertising, $186.24 on brochures and $1,165.50 on signs.
Meanwhile, the campaign contributions he received included $250 from John Warren, $100 from Regina Sagal-Hendry and $100 from Mike Warren, for a total of $450.
Coun. Carla Delaurier spent $1,536.70, including $678.75 on advertising, $91 on brochures and $766.95 on signs.
However, she did not receive any campaign contributions.
Overall, the 21 councillor candidates who reported their expenses spent a total of $50,258.38 during the election.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, April 28.
