Resident accuses Sudbury city councillor of breaking campaign rules
A Ward 11 resident in Greater Sudbury has made a formal request for a compliance audit of Coun. Bill Leduc, who was re-elected in last fall’s municipal election.
In a letter dated April 4, Anastasia Rioux claims that Leduc used a ‘Grandparents Day’ event in September 2022 to “shore up support and violate city election guidelines.”
“Leduc’s poster that comes straight from his own personal Facebook page indicates that city services like ambulances and police cars would be on hand,” Rioux wrote.
She said she called a ‘Ms. Robidoux’ at the retirement home and asked who was funding the event and was told “Bill Leduc’s councillor fund.”
“I understand each councillor gets a slush fund to use during their term but it seems highly irresponsible and criminal for taxpayers (sic) money to be used to fund his personal election campaign,” Rioux said in the letter.
The ‘slush fund’ is a reference to money each councillor can approve for projects and events in their ward each year, known as Healthy Community Initiative Funds.
At one time, the funds were controversial because they were disbursed with little oversight. But restrictions have been placed on what the money could be used for and larger disbursements now require council approval.
All spending is reported on the city’s website. Leduc’s ward fund shows a $1,000 expense in summer 2022 for the Minnow Lake Community Action Network to put on Westmount Grandparents Day.
Rioux said the event was clearly to promote Leduc’s re-election. His campaign vehicle was present and “he and his entourage were yelling ‘Team Leduc’ at vehicles and pedestrians passing by.”
Included in her letter were pictures of Leduc talking to city employees at the event wearing a ‘Team Leduc’ jacket.
“This was clearly a campaign event,” she wrote.
Rioux also takes issue with Leduc’s support for the Kingsway Entertainment District. The plan to build a $100 million arena and casino on the Kingsway was blocked by opponents, who took the city to court.
The court delays eventually ran into the COVID-19 pandemic and soaring inflation and the costs of the arena rose to $200 million when city council killed the project.
“Leduc has wasted millions trying to get an arena/casino combination built in our ward to no fruition,” Rioux wrote in a letter dated April 4, 2023, but that says it was previously sent in September 2022.
“I can tell you I have never voted for him and he is currently running for re-election.”
Leduc denied any wrongdoing and told CTV News he is preparing his response to Rioux and will make a statement Friday.
Her request was sent to the city’s election compliance committee, which will review it at its meeting April 27. A decision on whether to order a compliance audit of Leduc must be made by May 15.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police identify Toronto victim of alleged serial killer
Toronto police have identified the woman who was allegedly killed by a suspected serial killer earlier this month.
'We've been here before': Trudeau says Canada will prioritize interests in potential U.S. trade renegotiation
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that if the next U.S. president re-opens trade negotiations for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Canada will prioritize its own interests.
B.C. billionaire posts third large sign criticizing NDP ahead of the election
British Columbia billionaire Chip Wilson has put up yet another billboard message to voters, his third post outside his multimillion-dollar mansion in NDP Leader David Eby's own riding.
Missing father, kids spotted in New Zealand wilderness 3 years after disappearance: police
A New Zealand man who disappeared with his three children in 2021 was spotted on a farm along the country's northwest coast, police say.
BREAKING Deadly Old Montreal fire: police arrest two suspects aged 18 and 20
Montreal police have arrested two young adults in connection with the deadly fire in Old Montreal last week that killed two people.
Former public safety minister didn't know about delayed spy warrant, he tells inquiry
Former public safety minister Bill Blair denies having any knowledge about delays in approving a spy service warrant in 2021 that may have included references to people in his own government.
'It went horribly wrong': DNA analysis sheds light on lost Arctic expedition's grisly end
Archaeologists have identified the cannibalized remains of a senior officer who perished during an ill-fated 19th century Arctic expedition, offering insight into its lost crew's tragic and grisly final days.
Winnipeggers arrested after images surface of cats being tortured, killed
Two Winnipeggers have been arrested after images and videos were posted online of animals being tortured and killed.
Partial remains of British climber believed found 100 years after Everest ascent
The partial remains of a British mountaineer who might -- or might not -- have been one of the first two people to climb Mount Everest are believed to have been found a century after their ascent of the world's highest peak, according to an expedition led by National Geographic.