Election Compliance Audit Committee

Minutes

Meeting #:

7

Date:

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Time:

11:00 A.m. - 2:00 P.m.

Location:

Electronic Participation

Present:

• Timothy Cullen (Chair), 
• Nahie Bassett, 
• Imad Eldahr, 
• and Michael McGoldrick 

Absent:

• Catherine Bergeron (Vice-Chair) 

Committee Counsel present:

• James Plotkin (Gowling WLG) 

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1.

Notices and meeting information for meeting participants and the public

Notices and meeting information are attached to the agenda and minutes, including: availability of simultaneous interpretation and accessibility accommodations; personal information disclaimer for correspondents and public speakers (only “designated persons” shall be permitted to make submissions to the Committee); notice regarding minutes; and hybrid participation details.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, upon request.

Unredacted versions of applications for compliance audits, and any written submissions to Committee, are available for public inspection at the City of Ottawa Elections Office during regular business hours in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.

At the outset of the meeting, the Chair read an opening statement outlining the procedures for and format of the Committee Meeting.

2.

Declarations of Interest

No Declarations of Interest were filed.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

3.1

ECAC Minutes 6 – September 16, 2024

• Carried

4.

Office of the City Clerk

4.1

Appointment of an external licensed auditor to conduct an election compliance audit of the campaign finances of Candidate Shawn Menard, Ward 17 Capital, from the 2022 Municipal Elections

File No. ACS2025-OCC-GEN-0007 – City-wide

Paul Maniscalco, representing OXARO Inc., answered questions from the Committee.

No submissions were received from the parties on this item.

The Committee recessed the meeting and deliberated in private on this matter pursuant to subsection 88.33(5.1) of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. Upon reconvening, the Committee received a Direction to Staff from Member N. Bassett and considered the following motion:

Direction to Staff (Member Nahie Bassett)

Keeping in mind the desire of the Committee to obtain a comprehensive review of the applicable finances, the Committee is concerned with the proposed resources allocated and the corresponding financial burden on the City. Therefore, I ask that these aspects of the proposal be further refined with the City in consultation with the City’s counsel.

• Report Recommendation(s)

  That the Election Compliance Audit Committee:

  1. Approve the appointment of an external licensed auditor to conduct an election compliance audit of the campaign finances of Candidate Shawn Menard of Ward 17 Capital from the 2022 Municipal Elections, as outlined in this report;
  2. Delegate the authority to finalize the contract and audit plan to the City Clerk or her designate, in consultation with the Committee’s legal counsel, as outlined in this report.
• Motion No. ECAC 2025-07-01
  Moved by M. McGoldrick

  That the report recommendations be amended as follows:

  That the Election Compliance Audit Committee:

  1. Approve the appointment of OXARO Inc., an external licensed auditor, to conduct an election compliance audit of the campaign finances of Candidate Shawn Menard of Ward 17 Capital from the 2022 Municipal Elections, as outlined in this report;
  2. Delegate the authority to finalize the contract and audit plan to the City Clerk or her designate, in consultation with the Committee’s legal counsel, as outlined in this report.
  Carried as amended

5.

Inquiries

There were no Inquiries.

6.

Other Business

There was no other business.

7.

Adjournment

Next Meeting: To be scheduled as required within the timelines prescribed by the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, should compliance audit application(s), auditor report(s) or report(s) from the City Clerk on the apparent contravention(s) of contribution limits be received.

The meeting adjourned at 11:40 am.