Press Releases and Media Advisories

OTTAWA, Thursday, June 29, 2006 — The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Jean‑Pierre Kingsley, has released the following statement.

This statement is made in the context of the comments made by The Honourable John Baird to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on June 27, 2006, regarding fees paid to attend the 2005 Conservative Party policy convention.
The rules respecting the determination of contributions in the context of political events are clear and have been applied consistently.
Elections Canada has not audited the books of the Conservative Party regarding this convention.
Elections Canada does not have the legal authority to audit the books of any registered party or to require their production.
Elections Canada asked for such authority in recommendation 4.1 of its 2005 recommendations report, Completing the Cycle of Electoral Reforms, which is available on the Elections Canada Web site at www.elections.ca.
The public has the right to know exactly what happened in this case.
The Chief Electoral Officer requests the Conservative Party of Canada to provide him with the necessary documents and supporting information to allow the public to know that the law has been respected.

Elections Canada is an independent body set up by Parliament.

Information:
Elections Canada Media Relations
1 877 877-9515
or at www.elections.ca