The issue of campaign expenditures during the 2008 municipal election has entered the news recently with a number of articles by Susan McIver and editorials by editor James Millar appearing in the Penticton Herald. (see links below) As Daphne Bramham (see below) has reported in the Vancouver Sun similar situations occurred in other communities around the province. Central Saanich was one where the RCMP actually recommended charges, but the Crown did not proceed. Some of the issues include the possibility that anonymous donations exceeding $50 were received and not remitted to the municipality as required by the legislation. And the Citizens for Smart Governance never filed a financial disclosure form. As James Millar mentioned during his questioning of Councillors Clark and Elia at the last Summerland Council meeting this group conservatively spent over $3000 on election ads. Which is far in excess of the $500 threshold for having to register as a campaign organizer.

Here is a You Tube video showing James Millar, managing editor of the Penticton Herald, questioning Councillors Clark and Elia, at the November 9, 2009 Summerland Council meeting, regarding their association with the "Citizens for Smart Governance" and who paid for the "Citizens for Smart Governance" ads during the 2008 municipal election.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVP349ZoNXY