Mayoralty Candidates Election Disclosures Released By The City

By Robert Thomas

It has been four months since the November 9th, 2020 Civic Election and the City has now released the election expense and contributions declarations for mayoralty candidates in compliance with the applicable Bylaw.

The campaign disclosure filings can be found on the City’s web-site under the heading Candidate Campaign and Election Disclosure Statements.

All three mayoralty candidates filed disclosures and are eligible to have their $100 deposit returned.

A requirement under the Election Campaign Disclosure and Spending Limits Bylaw (Bylaw #5542) all candidates must file what they spend during a Civic election and what they receive in donations as a means to make the election transparent and keep candidates accountable. The filings, according to the Bylaw, are then posted on the City’s web-site.

Councillor candidates must file their declaration within three months following the election date and mayoralty candidates must file within four months of the election date.

For a look at the elected councillor candidates click the link.

The filings must record all expenses and contributions to any election campaign exceeding $200 cumulatively from one contributor. The bylaw sets spending limits to help ensure everyone has a fair economic chance at running a viable campaign and by listing the people and entities who donate to a particular candidate it is easier to hold them accountable from serving a special interest or individual.

Successful councillor candidates who fail to file with three months of the election date or lie on their disclosures can be prosecuted and if convicted they will be removed from office. Mayoralty candidates have up to four months from the election date to file their campaign return.

Unsuccessful candidates who fail to submit a campaign disclosure forfeit their campaign deposit.

The expenses for mayoralty candidates ranged from $1040.47 spent by third place finisher Nancy Nash, $4,872 spent by runner-up John Kot and $17,537.83 spent by Mayor Tolmie to be re-elected.

Nash received no contributions, Kot received contributions of $4,872 and Mayor Tolmie received contributions of $15,384.75.

The re-election expenses for Mayor Tolmie range from $5,306.58 for brochures and a mail out to $4,420 for a media consultation right down to $19.96 spent at Walmart on office supplies. (See the expenses below.)

On the political donor side of the ledger Mayor Tolmie received campaign contributions from 22 different sources.

The largest contributor to the Mayor’s re-election campaign was Imperial Distillery by Praveen Chander for $1,500. Imperial Distillery is in the process of setting up a scotch distillery on Ominica Street East.

Left over funds not used during his 2016 (and second) campaign running for mayor of Moose Jaw). In total previous donors from the 2016 election contributed $1,484.75 to the 2020 election run.

In total there were 12 donations from businesses with four of them being physically headquartered or located outside of the city.

There were additional donations from one association listed as the MJFD for $1,000.

The Mayor’s re-election campaign personally cost him $205.42.

(See the list of donors below.)

One thing that can be noted and that is as a civic candidate, none of the candidates may issue tax deductible receipts unlike provincial and federal election candidates.

Full Disclaimer - As a full disclaimer as an ordinary Moose Jaw resident the author of this story appeared at Council in 2013 and in a 10 minute presentation lobbied Council to enact the Bylaw quoted in this story as a means to help ensure fairness and accountability of Moose Jaw’s civic elected officials.