In a letter written June 13 and provided to CBC News, Jeffrey Ayotte writes of his "profound disappointment" that Elections Canada won't meet with Del Mastro or any of his representatives.
Ayotte says in the letter he's confirming a conversation with Elections Canada officials.
"I further confirm that Elections Canada will only be interested in meeting with Mr. Del Mastro at some point in the future if he is prepared to give a cautioned statement," Ayotte wrote.
A cautioned statement means people answering questions are aware their statements can be used against them in court.
Elections Canada is investigating Del Mastro over allegations he and his campaign spent too much on the 2008 election.
Bank records turned over to agency
Court documents released Thursday show Elections Canada has had production orders issued for Del Mastro's personal banking records, as well as some of the records for his riding association in Peterborough, Ont.
The case revolves around a personal cheque written by Del Mastro to Holinshed Research Group, which did research and made live phone calls to constituents as part of his election campaign.
Frank Hall, president of Holinshed, complained to Elections Canada that Del Mastro's election return didn't reflect the work he had done or the value of the work. According to court documents, Hall said he provided $20,000 in services, for which he was paid $21,000 — $20,000 plus GST.
Del Mastro says Holinshed did only $1,500 worth of work, or $1,575 including GST. He says he has been reimbursed for anything he paid for on behalf of his campaign. Candidates have personal spending limits of $2,100.
Bank records filed with Elections Canada for Del Mastro's campaign show he was reimbursed for $1,575. The investigator for Elections Canada says in the court records released Thursday that he can't find a bank record that indicates Del Mastro paid Holinshed that amount.
"It seems to us that Elections Canada is fixated on the information it has obviously received from representatives for Holinshed Research and is not prepared to receive any information in any open manner from Mr. Del Mastro," Ayotte says in the letter.
Source: CBC
Author: Laura Payton
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