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Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro answered only one question Thursdayabout a report that Elections Canada is looking into his 2008campaign spending, leaving many MPs unsatisfied. A report by the Ottawa Citizen and Postmedia says Elections Canadais investigating Del Mastro's spending in the 2008 election, wherehe won the seat in Peterborough, Ont. Del Mastro says the election agency hasn't contacted him about aninvestigation and that he didn't spend more than his campaignlimit, an offence with a maximum penalty of $5,000 or up to fiveyears in prison. No charges have been filed and the allegations have not been testedin court. Elections Canada refuses to confirm whether they areinvestigating, as is their policy. Opposition MPs said they aren't getting any answers from DelMastro. "The answers we got today were a complete mystery to me. He didn tindicate for a moment that he even understood the nature of thecharges or the nature of the investigation that was underway. Ithought it was a pretty extraordinary performance," interim LiberalLeader Bob Rae said. Mystery cheque Documents filed in small claims court in Ottawa suggest Del Mastrospent $21,000 of his own money on services provided by HolinshedResearch Group, a company that he says did work for him as an MPand as a candidate, which are paid out of separate budgets. Thecompany also did work for his riding association, he told EvanSolomon, host of CBC News Network's Power & Politics , on Wednesday. Federal election candidates are allowed to spend only $2,100 oftheir own money on their campaigns, with a penalty of up to $5,000or five years in jail for spending more than the limit. Del Mastro says any money he spent on his campaign was reimbursedby the campaign or by the riding association. Records provided onthe Elections Canada website show no reimbursement for the $21,00to him or his wife, whose name is also on the joint chequingaccount. There was no repayment to Del Mastro from the riding associationeither, records show. Del Mastro's election return shows his campaign spent nearly theentire amount allowed under federal election laws $91,770.80with a total limit of $92,566.79. Another $21,000 would have brokencampaign spending laws, which have penalties of up to $5,000 orfive years in prison. Speaking to CBC News after his Wednesday appearance on Power &Politics, Del Mastro said he absolutely did not overspend in hiscampaign. "All I can say is all of the expenses related to the campaign all of them have been fully accounted for and those statementshave been fully audited and accepted by Elections Canada," he said. It's not clear what the $21,000 cheque, dated Aug. 18, 2008, wasfor. A document provided in the civil suit suggests Del Mastro'scampaign manager, John McNutt, signed off on an invoice fromHolinshed for that amount on Sept. 15, 2008. The invoice says itcovered 630 hours of voter ID phone calls, as well asget-out-the-vote live calls on election day. McNutt did not respond to a request for comment. Small claims suit against Del Mastro dismissed The investigation seems to stem from a lawsuit, which was dismissedas abandoned a year ago, court documents show. The suit waslaunched by Frank Hall, a former Reform Party staffer who startedHolinshed. The company's website and phone number no longer work. In 2009, Holinshed got a $125,000 federal grant under the Canada Economic Action Planstimulus spending to develop their GeoVote system. NDP MP Charlie Angus seized on that in question period. "So, who signed off on this expenditure and when? And will theyshow us the GeoVote application that Canadian taxpayers paid for?Where is it?" Liberal MP Scott Andrews, the party's critic for ethics issues,called Del Mastro the right hand of Prime Minister Stephen Harper,and said he has to give up that role. He should also resign hisposition on the House ethics committee until the investigation isover, Andrews said in a statement. "Mr. Del Mastro's role has been to breathlessly defend thegovernment against serious electoral fraud allegations formonths.... He cannot continue to answer for this government when hehas these allegations of possible misconduct looming over hishead." Del Mastro has been the party's lead defender throughout therobocalls scandal involving misleading live and automated callsthat directed voters to the wrong polling stations. Del Mastro said Andrews has served on committee with him longenough to "know a couple of things about me." "One is I serve with integrity and conviction, Mr. Speaker, andwhile that member and I haven't always agreed, he does know thosequalities about me." Del Mastro said the financial statements provided to ElectionsCanada in 2008 accurately reflect all expenditures incurred by bothhis campaign and his riding association. "Anything I paid on their behalf, was refunded to me. I stand bythose." Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre took the remainder of theopposition questions about Del Mastro's campaign finances. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Steam Shower Cabin Manufacturer , China Electric Sauna Heater for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Steam Bath Generator.
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