Ensuring Transparency in the 2022 Election: Amending the Contribution Rebate Program

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The decision

2023-02-07 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on February 7 and 8, 2023, adopted the following: 1. City Council amend Schedule A of Municipal Code Chapter 53, Elections, by adding an additional requirement under Section 2 (Candidate's Obligations) subsection B (Include with all audited financial statements): "(3) A copy of all campaign invoices" to take effect for future by-elections and general elections. 2. City Council direct the City Clerk to inform all candidates for Mayor and City Councillor of this change by any means the City Clerk deems appropriate.

The vote

Adopt Item · Carried, 26-0

The whole record, all 26 members

Every name opens that member’s record.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

City Council on December 14 and 15, 2022, referred Motion MM2.15 to the Executive Committee for further consideration. Beginning with the 2003 election and in every election until 2021, City Council maintained the requirement that all participants in the Contribution Rebate Program submit copies of all campaign invoices. These invoices reside in the City Clerk's Office and may be inspected by any individual. According to a 2002 staff report, Members of Council added the requirement to provide copies of invoices due to concern for the "lack of documentation of campaign expenses" that was otherwise available.

Show the rest of As the city filed it, 1,125 more characters as filed

On October 1, 2021, City Council adopted the recommendations of a report entitled, "Mail-In Voting and Contribution Rebate Programs in the 2022 General Municipal Election." The recommendations regarding the Contribution Rebate Program eliminated the requirement for candidates to provide copies of all campaign invoices. While the requirement to submit copies of invoices was removed, candidates are still required by the Municipal Elections Act to maintain invoice records privately. It is not too late to amend Municipal Code Chapter 53, Elections, to include the requirement to submit copies of all invoices for the 2022 election cycle. As candidates are required by law to maintain those records, they will still be available to submit with initial audited financial statements. The first deadline for initial audited financial statements is March 31, 2023. Any candidate that submits their initial audited financial statements before becoming aware of the need to submit copies of all invoices will have the opportunity to amend their filing any time before their deadline to file (including the statutory grace period).

Staff recommended

Councillor Paula Fletcher, seconded by Councillor Chris Moise, recommends that: 1. City Council amend Municipal Code Chapter 53, Elections, by adding an additional requirement under section 2 (Candidate Obligations) subsection B (Include with all audited financial statements): "3) A copy of all campaign invoices" retroactive to the 2022 municipal election campaign finances. 2. City Council direct the City Clerk to inform all candidates for Mayor and City Councillor of this change by any means the City Clerk deems appropriate.

Considered

2023-01-31 · Executive Committee · amended
Decision as filed
The Executive Committee recommends that: 1. City Council amend Municipal Code Chapter 53, Elections, by adding an additional requirement under Section 2 (Candidate Obligations) subsection B (Include with all audited financial statements): "3) A copy of all campaign invoices" to take effect for future by-elections and general elections. 2. City Council direct the City Clerk to inform all candidates for Mayor and City Councillor of this change by any means the City Clerk deems appropriate.
2023-02-07 · Toronto City Council · adopted

On the record

The item as the City filed it