MUNICIPAL ELECTION COMPLIANCE AUDIT COMMITTEE (MECAC)

This apparently is a first for Waterloo Region and only a few such audits have ever been done throughout Ontario. Councillor Scott Hahn of Woolwich Township (Elmira & rural areas etc.) screwed up his election expenses report incredibly. Currently his amended election expenses are in the neighbourhood of $3,000 and climbing whereas his original report stated a lowly and ridiculous $280. There have been two hearing dates so far and today MECAC recommended sending the file on to an Auditor to get a professional opinion. After the Auditor makes his determination by carefully examining the law and the receipts and invoices etc. he will report back to MECAC. They must then decide in an open forum whether or not to send the file to a prosecuter to determine if criminal charges are appropriate.

At this point in time the decision to send it to an Auditor was a black & white decision. There are way too many anomolies and errors in the paperwork not to get a professional opinion. It may end up being a case of whether the family who eventually paid for the Councillor's expenses are willing to testify under oath as to things like the timing of receipts, invoices, intent etc.. Is it possible that there was no criminal intent however some last minute bad and desperate decisions were made?