Three area residents who donated to Councillor Amber Morley’s campaign accused of donating too much.
Three area residents are being looked at by a City committee who will decide if to take action against them for contributing more than legally allowed in the 2022 election of Councillor Amber Morley.
The high-profile residents were tagged by an auditing firm after credit card processing fees under $30 were added on to their allowable limits of $1,200.
The supporters claim credit card processing fees were added on to their legal donations.
A Compliance Audit Committee will decide at its meeting on February 28 if further action will be taken against the Morley supporters, who are accused of breaking municipal election rules.
An external auditor has completed a review of financial statements filed for the 2022 municipal election and identified contributors ‘who appears to have exceeded the contribution limits in the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.’
The Committee will decide if any action will be taken against the contributors.
Deputy Mayor Morley sits on the Toronto Police Services Board and a slew of other City committees.
The funds were donated to Morley in her bid for council in the 2022 municipal election.
The contributors named by an auditor can possibly face penalties.
In letters to the Committee two residents claim they donated the authorized amount of $1,200 and a credit card processing fee of $27 was added on their donations which made them exceed the limit.
Amber Morley was elected to represent Ward 3 in the 2022 municipal election. She defeated Mark Grimes, the only defeat of an incumbent councillor who was running for re-election that year.
Councillor has gained a reputation in the community.
Morley is now a Toronto Deputy Mayor, who sits on the Police Services Board, Toronto Public Library, Budget Committee, Board of Health, Infrastructure and Environment Committee, Executive Committee, Etobicoke York Community Council and four other bodies.
Eligible individuals can contribute a maximum of $1,200 to any one candidate during the candidate’s election campaign period. An exception is made for contributions to the candidate for the Mayor of Toronto, to whom individuals can contribute up to $2,500. Where an eligible individual wishes to contribute to two or more candidates, they may do so to a maximum of $5,000 in total.
Individuals cannot provide loans to candidates in the form of monetary or non-monetary contributions. Any unpaid but guaranteed balance in respect of a loan will count as a campaign contribution.
The sums are considered minor amounts and the Morley supporters can receive a warning. But a court for major municipal elections act offences can sentence a person to a $25,000 fine, ban them from running in an election or up to six months in prison.