A campaign-style Stampede breakfast has a Calgary city councilor in the hot seat.
Elections Alberta found Calgary Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean breached the Local Government Elections Act when he hosted the event on July 10, 2021, “which was widely advertised as a ‘campaign-style event’ where businesses donated more than 100 prizes,” the election watchdog wrote in documents released by Globally acquired. News.
McLean used these prizes to attract Calgarians to attend his event.
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“One of the city’s top auctioneers will be there to give away prizes. I’ve gone to almost every business in Ward 13 over the past few weeks and have been thrilled with how many prizes and donations they’ve made that we want to give away to you, the public,” McLean said in a video promoting the event.
That video posted on July 8, 2021 listed grocery stores, clothing stores, restaurants, pet stores, personal services, and professional services.
In a video replay of the event, McLean thanked First Avenue Financial for their support in the form of a gift basket “I think worth $1000 … at least $100-something.”
“This is where I rented my campaign office from,” he said, addressing the crowd that the video post said exceeded 1,000 people. “Give these guys a look-up if you can.”
After investigation, Chief Electoral Officer Glen Resler found McLean had breached section 147.2(5) of the Local Authorities Electoral Act (LAEA).
That section relates to the acceptance of contributions from prohibited organizations or from outside people or groups ordinarily resident outside Alberta.
McLean faces a $500 administrative fine, the minimum fine under the LAEA.
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In an interview with Global News, McLean apologized for the mistake.
“I apologize. I didn’t do anything intentionally wrong,” McLean said. “I got legal advice on this.
“I tried to promote the (Calgary) Stampede, I tried to promote small businesses, and I tried to promote myself.
“None of that Stampede breakfast went to my own campaign,” he said, noting that all donations from businesses were given away as prizes to participants.
The Ward 13 representative said he has fully cooperated with the investigation, a sentiment echoed by the chief elections officer in his letter to McLean.
“I find that your actions were inadvertent, you were completely prompt during your interview and your response to the (investigation),” Resler wrote to McLean. “It is my determination that a factor in this offense was your misinterpretation of the relevant section of the LAEA.”
McLean admitted he should have sought advice from Elections Alberta, the chief electoral officer noted.
“There was ample evidence to suggest that the Stampede breakfast was a campaign event, and this was also acknowledged by your campaign manager, Mr. Patrick Poilievre.”
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McLean told Global News “there needs to be a lot more clarity on campaign contributions,” as outlined by the LAEA.
According to the LAEA, candidates can only receive contributions from individuals, up to a maximum value of $5,000. Anonymous contributions are not allowed, nor are contributions that do not belong to the person making the donation – so-called straw donors.
Businesses, employee organizations and unions are prohibited from donating directly to campaigns.
Many chose to donate to third-party advertisers during Calgary’s municipal election.
In the October 2021 municipal election, McLean defeated incumbent Diane Colley-Urquhart and Jay Unsworth.
-with files from Adam MacVicar, Global News
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
