Quebec’s chief electoral officer has sent notice to the province’s three largest political parties that they may have to repay back thousands of dollars in illegal donations.
The Liberals lead the way, as party president Gilbert Grimard issued a statement acknowledging receiving the notice and saying the party had put aside $500,000 in a trust for potential repayment.
The Parti Quebecois said it may have to pay back just under $250,000 while the Coalition Avenir Quebec estimated it might owe $35,000, dating back to when the party was known as the ADQ.
The donations in question were made between 2006 and 2011.
The new Bill 101, which was adopted in June and is based on recommendations from the Charbonneau Commission, gives the electoral officer the power to refund illegal donations. Previously, they only had the power to investigate donations going back five years but the new bill eliminates any time limit.
The parties have a 15 day period in which to prove the donations conformed to party financing rules. Should they fail to do that, information on who made the donations, how much was given and when the donations were made will be made public.
