Several local campaigns in this year’s provincial election operated with extremely low budgets, or no budgets at all.
The deadline for constituency associations and candidates to file their financials with Elections Ontario for the Feb. 27 provincial election was on Wednesday, exactly six months after the election.
By Friday, various campaigns had yet to file, but Sudbury.com was able to gather some context from those constituency associations and candidates who did file.
Most notable in provincial election financials filed thus far has been how many campaigns operated with either small budgets or no budgets at all.
In Sudbury, candidate Brady Legault’s New Blue association carried $1,334.46 in expenses while his campaign’s budget was $0.
Green Party of Ontario candidate David Robinson spent $3,585, while his association spent $2,240.
These expenses were dwarfed by the $60,055.72 which the Progressive Conservative constituency association reported spending (whose candidate, Max Massimiliano, had yet to file).
Financials from Jamie West (NDP) and Rashid Mukhtar Choudhry (Liberal) had not been filed.
In Nickel Belt, James Chretien (Libertarian), Paul Divincenzo (New Blue), Connie Hill (Green Party) all spent $0, while the Progressive Conservative constituency association spent $35,898.51 and Progressive Conservative candidate Randy Hazlett spent $31,329.64.
Neither France Gélinas (NDP) nor Natalie Labbée (Liberal) had filed.
While the vast majority of candidates, even low/zero spenders, made their presence known throughout the election cycle through such things as social media and responding to media inquiries, Hill maintained radio silence throughout the election cycle.
Perhaps most surprising among those who have yet to file their financial statements are the two local NDP candidates and their constituency associations, since both Gélinas and West were re-elected to public office on Feb. 27.
Sudbury.com reached out to the Ontario NDP for context, and received the following statement from provincial director Kevin Beaulie.
“The filings are with the party auditor, following the audit, they'll be available on the Elections Ontario site. After all campaigns, the party works with volunteer CFOs from local ridings to get everything filed and audited. We are in touch with Elections Ontario, and the numbers should be up on the site by next week.”
An Elections Ontario spokesperson confirmed to Sudbury.com that those associations and candidates listed as “Not Filed” as of Thursday are, in fact, late in filing.
“There are no extensions to this deadline,” they wrote. “If the report is not filed on time, the candidate will be ineligible to run in future elections, including the next general election, until the report is properly submitted.”
Expenses, between local constituency associations and their corresponding candidates, were as follows:
In Sudbury:
- New Blue: $1,334.46 / Brady Legault: $0
- Independent / David Popescu: Not Filed
- Green: $2,240 / David Robinson: $3,585
- NDP / Jamie West: Not Filed
- Liberal / Rashid Mukhtar Choudhry: Not Filed
- Progressive Conservative: $60,055.72 / Max Massimiliano: Not Filed
In Nickel Belt:
- Libertarian / James Chretien: $0
- New Blue / Paul Divincenzo: $0
- Green / Connie Hill: $0
- NDP / France Gélinas: Not Filed
- Liberal / Natalie Labbée: Not Filed
- Progressive Conservative: $35,898.51 / Randy Hazlett: $31,329.64
Sudbury.com will publish a more in-depth article on campaign finances as soon as more association and candidate filings are given to Elections Ontario and made publicly available.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.