News Releases: Commissioner of Canada Elections
Commissioner of Canada Elections Enters into
Compliance Agreement with Norda Stelo Inc.
Gatineau, May 19, 2020
The Commissioner of Canada Elections has entered into a compliance agreement with Norda Stelo Inc. (formerly Roche Ltd., Consulting Group) for illegal contributions made to federal political entities between June 19, 2004, and December 31, 2011. The full value of these contributions was reimbursed to the Receiver General of Canada by the registered parties thereby withdrawing the illegal funds from the federal political financing system.
As part of the terms and conditions of the agreement, Norda Stelo Inc. agreed to pay $139,660.23 to the Receiver General over a two-year period. This amount corresponds to triple the amount of the illegal contributions made to the federal political entities.
Norda Stelo Inc. cooperated fully with the Commissioner’s investigation by voluntarily providing the information that facilitated the tracking and recovery of the contributions and has committed to cooperating with the office for the duration of its ongoing investigation.
The Commissioner also wishes to acknowledge the exceptional cooperation of the registered parties in this matter, and in similar matters that were resolved by way of a compliance agreement over the last several years. The extensive investigations that were carried out into these matters did not result in any evidence being obtained that federal political entities that had accepted the contributions had any knowledge that they were in fact illegal indirect contributions from companies. Both the Conservative Party of Canada and the Liberal Party of Canada paid, to the Receiver General, an amount equal to the contributions that they had each, respectively, accepted indirectly from these companies, as required by the Act. Furthermore—and as a clear demonstration of their respect for the spirit of the political financing rules—both registered parties also agreed to pay, to the Receiver General, amounts equal to the illegal contributions that had been accepted by their affiliated entities. This included money accepted by their candidates, registered associations and leadership contestants, as the case may be. The registered parties agreed to pay these amounts despite the fact that the registered parties themselves, in most of these instances, never benefitted in any way from the contributions, and that there was no legal requirement for them to do so.
The full text of the compliance agreement is available on the Commissioner of Canada Elections’ website at: www.cef-cce.ca.
Compliance agreements are voluntary and outline the terms and conditions that the Commissioner considers necessary to ensure compliance with the Canada Elections Act, including the payment of an amount to the Receiver General. The ability to negotiate enhanced compliance agreements has been in place since April 1, 2019. These agreements may include a statement by the individual or organization (“contracting party”) admitting responsibility for the act or omission constituting the offence. The admission of responsibility does not constitute a criminal conviction by a court of law and does not create a criminal record for the contracting party. More information about compliance agreements can be found at sections 517 to 521 of the Canada Elections Act.
The Commissioner of Canada Elections is the independent officer responsible for ensuring compliance with, and enforcement of, the Canada Elections Act and the federal Referendum Act.
For information specific to this matter:
Commissioner of Canada Elections Media Relations
819-939-2278
or by email at communication@cef-cce.ca
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