Conservative Senators Charged With Violating Election Rules

Elections Canada alleges the Tories exceeded election funding caps during the 2006 campaign.

Sitting Conservative senators Doug Finley and Irving Gerstein are among four people Elections Canada charged Wednesday in relation to what has been dubbed the “in-and-out” affair, an alleged scheme to pool funds registered for local candidates and put them towards the party’s national campaign in 2006. Campaign staffers Susan Kehoe and Michael Donison were also charged. The charges are regulatory, not criminal, and are the latest salvo from Elections Canada, which claims the scheme allowed the Tories to exceed spending limits by $1.3 million. Elections Canada has already lost a court battle with the Conservatives over the issue, but has appealed the decision. The outcome of that earlier court proceeding is expected in March.