The municipalities of Athens, Augusta, Brockville, Edwardsburgh Cardinal, Elizabethtown-Kitley, Front of Yonge, Gananoque, Leeds & the Thousand Islands, Merrickville-Wolford, North Grenville, Prescott, Rideau Lakes and Westport are recruiting experienced professionals for appointment to the Joint Leeds and Grenville 2022 Election Compliance Audit Committee.
The Municipal Elections Act, 1996, as amended (MEA), requires municipalities to establish a Compliance Audit Committee to consider applications requesting audits of election campaign finances. The Committee may be required to appoint auditors and determine if legal proceedings are required as a result of the auditors’ reports.
Applicants with a background in law, election administration, public administration, auditing and accounting, professionals who are required to adhere to codes of standards of their profession and those with in-depth knowledge of the campaign financing rules are preferred.
Applicants should have:
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of municipal elections, including campaign financing rules;
- Proven analytical and decision-making skills;
- Experience working on committees, task forces or similar settings;
- Availability and willingness to attend meetings during daytime and evening hours over a four-year term, as required; and
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Pursuant to subsection 88.37 (2) of the MEA, applicants cannot be candidates or registered third party advertisers in the 2022 Municipal Election, or any by-election during the 2022-2026 Council term, nor can they have committed to providing professional advice to any person running for office in any of the participating municipalities. Municipal employees and members of Council are also ineligible.
The Committee’s term of office is four years, beginning in November 2022. Successful applicants, in good standing, will receive a $100 retainer at the end of each year during the term, and may receive additional compensation depending on compensation by-laws of the local municipalities.
Applicants may be required to participate in an interview process.
For further information, contact the Clerk, or the Clerk of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
Deadline for applications is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, July 22, 2022
The Municipality has established, along with other local municipalities, a Joint Compliance Audit Committee for 2022-2026.
The Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (the “Act”) makes the establishment of a compliance audit committee mandatory. This committee may be a joint committee. The Act states that a qualified elector who believes on reasonable grounds that a candidate or registered third party has contravened a provision of the Act relating to election campaign finances may apply for a compliance audit of the candidate’s or the registered third party’s election campaign finances.
Requesting An Audit
To file an application for a compliance audit request of a candidate or registered third party’s election campaign finances:
- Complete the application for an Election Compliance Audit providing reasons and supporting documentation.
- File the application with the Municipal Clerk by:
Dates and details on filing of financial statements, including grace periods and extensions can be found on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s website.
Requests for audits for school board candidates must be filed with the applicable school board.
Audit process
Within 30 days after receiving the application, the Compliance Audit Committee will consider the application and determine if an audit is required or if the application is rejected.
The decision of the Committee regarding whether an audit is required or If the application is rejected, may be appealed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice within 15 days after the decision is made.
If the Committee grants the audit, the auditor will conduct the audit to determine if the candidate or registered third party has complied with the election campaign finance provisions of the Act.
The auditor will provide a report to the Clerk, the applicant and the candidate or third party.
The Committee will consider the report within 30 days of receiving it, and will determine whether legal proceedings should be commenced against the candidate or third party.