The audit, released on Tuesday, was ordered by the city of Ottawa's Election Compliance Audit Committee in July 2023 and conducted by BDO Canada LLP. The audit was called following a complaint accusing the group of benefiting from an event called "Horizonfest" in September 2022.
"As a result, Horizon Ottawa appears to have contravened the campaign finances rules established by the MEA," the audit said. Nine expenses relating "Horizonfest", described as a music festival by organizers, were reviewed by auditors. The event featured several council candidates, including Capital Ward councillor Shawn Menard and Somerset Ward candidate Ariel Troster, who would go on to be elected councillor.
A lawyer for Horizon Ottawa told councillors on the Election Complicate Committee last July that Horizonfest was not intended to be a primary fundraiser to purchase advertising, noting that Horizon Ottawa actually lost money on the event. In addition, auditors found Horizon's financial records did not appear to be "appropriately maintained" and processes for maintaining advertising records were "insufficient."
Days before they were set to go onstage at festivals in New Glasgow and Saint John, Canadian band Sum 41 has backed out for medical reasons.Homeless encampments in the Halifax area are dealing with overcrowding as the number of people living on the streets has surged to approximately 600.A guest at a Toronto Blue Jays game earlier this month is $825,000 richer – they just don’t know it yet.