| From the Mississauga News web-site (http://www.mississauga.com/article/full/fullview/NVMW-5F), if there are errors, please e-mail me with corrections: Opening comments - more at end. May. 23, 2001 - Mississauga News - By DELCAN FINUCANE Councillor's spending scrutinized City Council could determine as early as today whether or not to order a forensic audit of Cliff Gyles' election expenses. The Ward 5 councillor is under the gun once again after a lawyer representing Lorne Park resident Roy Willis officially requested the audit, citing concerns about duplicate contributions and unexplained expenses. Specifically, Willis, who has campaigned unsuccessfully for the Ward 5 council seat a half dozen times, is concerned about: "excessive and inordinate" expenses, including an $18,633 figure not supported by documentation, listed under the City Clerk Arthur Grannum said Council has 30 days to decide if a forensic audit will be conducted by City-appointed accountants. In a report provided to councillors, City staff has recommended an audit be carried out by the accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche. Municipal legislation allows any eligible voter to call into question election expenses incurred by councillors, Grannum said. Under terms of the Municipal Elections Act, councillors who exceed their limits can lose their seats in office, he added. Gyles spent $61,464.18 on his campaign, $26,000 more than the councillor with the next highest expenses -- Ward 7 Councillor Nando Iannicca, who spent $35,246 on his campaign. While Willis contends councillors should have to provide receipts along with their financial statements, the City of Mississauga only requires councillors to report their total expenses. Grannum said the City is, "not under any obligation to dissect the (councillors' election expense) statement ." However, he added, a forensic audit likely would dig up that information. Charges against Gyles of municipal corruption, breach of trust and frauds against the government – which stem from allegations he accepted funds from a developer in return for his support of a project in his ward -- have yet to be dealt with in court. Gyles was arrested and spent four days in jail in February, following a Peel Regional Police investigation. [COMMENTS BY DON B. - ] |
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