Compliance Audit Committee

For the 2022 municipal election, the City of Oshawa has partnered with the Town of Ajax, the Regional Municipality of Durham, the City of Pickering and the Town of Whitby to form a Joint Compliance Audit Committee. The Committee will serve for upcoming term of Council beginning on November 15, 2022 and concluding November 14, 2026 or until such time the applicable Committee has disposed of any remaining matters in accordance with the Act, whichever is later.

Applications for a Compliance Audit

An Elector who is entitled to vote in an election and believes on reasonable grounds that a Candidate or Third Party Advertiser has contravened a provision of the Act relating to election campaign finances may apply to the Committee for a Compliance Audit of the Candidate or Third Party Advertiser’s election campaign finances, even if the Candidate or Third Party Advertiser has not filed a financial statement under Section 88.25 of the Act.

An Application for a Compliance Audit shall be made to the Clerk in writing by email to [email protected] or in-person at City Hall, 50 Centre St. S. Oshawa. The Application shall set out the reasons for the Elector’s belief that the Candidate or Third Party Advertiser has contravened the Act.

The Application must be made within ninety (90) days after the latest of:

• The filing date under Section 88.30 of the Act;
• The Candidate or Third Party Advertiser’s supplementary filing date, if any, under Section 88.30 of the Act;
• The date the Candidate or Third Party Advertiser filed a financial statement, if the statement was filed within 30 days after the applicable filing date under Section 88.30; or
• The date on which the Candidate or Third Party Advertiser’s extension, if any, under s. 88.23(6) and s. 88.27(3) of the Act expires.

Review the 2022 Committee's establishing By-law, Procedures and Terms of Reference on the Elections Results & Resources Library webpage.

Mandate

The Compliance Audit Committee is responsible for hearing applications seeking an audit of contributions received or expenses incurred by a candidate or third party advertiser in relation to an election governed by the Municipal Elections Act. 

Additional responsibilities include:

• reviewing reports filed by the City Clerk;
• appointing an auditor when the Committee grants an application;
• reviewing reports filed by an auditor in response to an application;
• determining if legal proceedings are justified in light of the findings of an auditor’s report; and,
• appointing a prosecutor to commence legal proceedings where it has been determined that legal action is appropriate.