The Municipal Elections Act, 1996 makes it mandatory for municipalities to establish a Compliance Audit Committee to deal with complaints regarding election campaign financing in relation to candidates and registered third parties for each election, and to consider reports from the Clerk citing apparent instances of over-contributions.
An elector who is entitled to vote in an election and believes on reasonable grounds that a candidate or a registered third party who is registered in relation to the election in the municipality has contravened a provision of the Act relating to election campaign finances may apply for a compliance audit of the candidate's or registered third party's election campaign finances, even if the candidate or registered third party has not filed a financial statement.
Municipalities must appoint a Committee by October 1 of an election year and the appointment is for the term of the new Council.
