Undertakings

Commissioner of Canada Elections

Canada Elections Act

Undertaking

This notice is published by the Commissioner of Canada Elections, pursuant to section 521.34 (2) of the Canada Elections Act, S.C. 2000, c. 9.

On September 9, 2020, the Commissioner of Canada Elections accepted an undertaking from Mr. William F. Morneau Jr., pursuant to section 521.13 of the Canada Elections Act. The text of the undertaking is set out in full below.

September 10, 2020

Undertaking

Pursuant to section 521.13 of the Canada Elections Act (the Act), the Commissioner of Canada Elections (the Commissioner) has accepted this undertaking from Mr. William F. Morneau Jr. The undertaking is aimed at ensuring compliance with the Act.

The relevant provisions of the Act are paragraph 368(1)(a) and section 508.1, which make it a violation to circumvent the prohibition, at subsection 363(1), against a contributor other than an individual who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada making contributions to federal political entities.

Statements by Mr. Morneau

For the purpose of this undertaking, Mr. Morneau acknowledges the following:

Factors considered by the Commissioner

In accepting this undertaking, the Commissioner took into account the factors set out in paragraph 32 of the Compliance and Enforcement Policy of the Commissioner of Canada Elections. In particular, the Commissioner considered the fact that:

Terms and Conditions

Mr. Morneau undertakes to display a link to the notice described above on the home page of his personal website, or if he does not have one, on his social media accounts, for a minimum period of 30 days from the publication of the undertaking on the Commissioner of Canada Elections' website, and to transmit a link to this notice via his official Facebook and Twitter accounts, with the following statement: “The Commissioner of Canada Elections accepts an undertaking from Bill Morneau in relation to a circumvention of the Canada Elections Act's rules on contributions.” This transmission shall occur on the day the notice is first displayed, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Mr. Morneau undertakes to pay the sum of $300 to the Receiver General for Canada within 30 days of the date the Commissioner accepts this undertaking by signing it. This represents $150 per tour, taking into account the mitigating factors described above.

Mr. Morneau further undertakes to provide evidence, in writing, to the Commissioner that this undertaking has been complied with, within 30 days of receiving notice of the signing of the undertaking by the Commissioner.

Pursuant to subsection 521.13(4) of the Act, the Commissioner has informed Mr. Morneau that this undertaking will be published on the Commissioner's website, as required by subsection 521.34(2) of the Act.

The Commissioner agrees that the fulfillment by Mr. Morneau of his obligations as stated herein will constitute compliance with the undertaking. In accordance with section 508.1 of the Act, failure to comply with any provision of this undertaking may result in the Commissioner issuing a notice of violation imposing an administrative monetary penalty against Mr. Morneau.


Signed by Mr. William F. Morneau Jr. in the City of Toronto, in the province of Ontario this 4th day of September, 2020.

William F. Morneau Jr.

Signed by the Commissioner of Canada Elections, in the City of Gatineau, in the province of Quebec, this 9th day of September, 2020.

Yves Côté, QC
Commissioner of Canada Elections

Date modified: