The Compliance Audit Committee meets Tuesday, June 6, to consider campaign finance audits of former Mayor Justin Altmann and Council candidates Keith Singer and Juliette Deonarain.
Both Altmann and Singer chose not to file any campaign finance disclosures as required by the Municipal Elections Act, while apparent corporate donations to Deonarain are being called into question.
As the deadline for filing has passed, both Altmann and Singer will be ineligible to run in Stouffville’s 2026 municipal election.
“I believe the residence of Stouffville are happy with mediocrity, they are not ready for changes and real leadership,” Singer told Bullet Point News. “By not filing, I have made sure that I will not be tempted to run in the next election. I love Stouffville, however, I can’t continue to watch it decline and be financially ruined. Therefore, stepping away is the best thing for me and my family.”
Former Mayor Justin Altmann provided similar reasoning: “I was not interested in running for Stouffville again, and if I filed I would be tempted too so. By not filing, I can move on from Stouffville onto new ventures with no temptations.”
If the Committee decides to move forward with audits, the Municipal Elections Act grants the auditor the power to summon evidence and documents, as per section 33 of the Public Inquiries Act.
If a candidate refuses to cooperate with a related summons, the auditor could escalate the case to Ontario’s Divisional Court, potentially resulting in them being held in contempt.
Bullet Point News reached out to MNP LLC, the firm tasked with undertaking the audits should the Committee choose to proceed, regarding their ability to compel campaign finance information from candidates who did not file their disclosures. We did not receive comment.
All three audit requests were filed by Stouffville resident Paul Greenhalgh.
Greenhalgh is asking the Committee to compel disclosures and take the necessary steps to charge Singer and Altmann with an offence for their failure to adhere to the Municipal Elections Act.
Aside from losing their ability to run in the next election, a conviction on these grounds could result in fines as high as $25,000.
“People are expected to follow the rules in our election process,” Greenhalgh notes in one of his audit request applications. “Those who flaunt them should be called to account.”
The meeting will be held on June 6 at 2 pm in Council Chambers. Residents can attend in person at 111 Sandiford Drive and speak to the audit requests or watch online.
