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Former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has been found to have contravened the Canada Elections Act, following her engagement with the media during budget-related press events in June 2024. The revelation comes from Caroline Simard, Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer, who disclosed details of the violations through notices published on the commissioner’s official website.
Context of the Violation
During two separate press conferences, Freeland made comments regarding the Toronto-St. Paul’s by-election and expressed support for Leslie Church, her former chief of staff, who was contesting as the Liberal candidate. These remarks, made while she was representing the government, have been deemed inappropriate under the Elections Act, which prohibits the use of public resources for partisan activities.
Myriam Croussette, a spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections, stated, “Ministers cannot use public funds or resources for partisan purposes, such as promoting a candidate for a political party.” The implication of Freeland’s comments was that they transformed a portion of the expenses incurred during the press conferences into non-monetary contributions, thus breaching electoral regulations.
Financial Repercussions
As part of the compliance measures announced, Freeland signed an undertaking acknowledging the violation, and her riding association has since reimbursed the government a total of £910.58 (approximately CAD 1,500) for the costs associated with the events. Notably, Freeland herself will not face any personal fines as a result of these contraventions.
The Elections Commissioner has also levied a total of 16 administrative monetary penalties against various individuals connected to Liberal Party activities, with former financial agent Andrew Goodridge facing the brunt of these fines. He received eight penalties, amounting to £1,380 (CAD 2,300), for failures including improper disposal of surplus campaign funds and misclassifying payments to campaign volunteers.
Broader Implications for the Liberal Party
Goodridge’s violations are linked to his roles in financial management during the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, where allegations of improperly handled campaign funds emerged. Specifically, the commissioner identified that payments made to campaign volunteers exceeded the allowable limits, amounting to a significant financial discrepancy.
While Goodridge has asserted that these violations were clerical errors, they nevertheless raise questions about the oversight of financial practices within the Liberal Party. He has since distanced himself from future campaigns, indicating a shift in responsibility as the party seeks to navigate through this scrutiny.
Acknowledgment of Errors
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, the incumbent Liberal MP for Beaches–East York, has publicly acknowledged the errors associated with Goodridge’s management, suggesting that they stemmed from a misunderstanding regarding the classification of volunteer payments. He clarified that the misclassification was rectified moving forward, but the retrospective correction could result in complications for the Young Liberals who were compensated under previous agreements.
In his statement, Erskine-Smith emphasised that these issues were administrative and that all Young Liberals had been fully compensated for their contributions to the campaign.
Why it Matters
The unfolding events surrounding Chrystia Freeland and her associates serve as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by political figures in adhering to electoral regulations. As the Liberal Party grapples with these violations, the incident underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in political finance. It also raises broader questions about the integrity of campaign practices and the potential impact on voter trust. With the next election cycle on the horizon, these infractions could have lasting implications for party reputation and electoral success.
