The mayor of Sainte-Adèle risk of impeachment if he is re-elected

Photo courtesy
Robert Milot

Mayor

Matthew Payen

Thursday, 31 August, 2017 06:30

UPDATE
Thursday, 31 August, 2017 06:30

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SAINTE-ADELE | The mayor of Sainte-Adele could be considered eligible to sit after the election if he is re-elected next November.

Mayor Robert Milot was found guilty last April of a corrupt electoral practice.

He has requested a company to make a $ 100 donation to the Coalition avenir Québec in January 2014. He has received a statement of offence after his election to the city council in April 2016.

He has since appealed this decision to the superior Court. The proceedings are expected to resume on 8 November, a few days after the upcoming elections of November 3, for which Mr. Milot is a candidate again.

Disqualified

If his appeal is rejected, he could be recognized eligible to sit for the office of mayor for five years.

“It’s amazing to see how he gets on. He has trivialized his offense by saying to everyone : “It’s just 100 $”. But the election Law is not an option “, said his former adversary Peter Morabito, who explains that he is not a candidate in the next elections for the time being.

Second offence

The Director general of elections (DGEQ) has shipped on the 9th of August last a second finding of a violation of Mr. Milot to have violated the electoral Law, a mistake that could also lead to you being considered eligible to sit.

The DGEQ is believed that Robert Milot was transmitted shortly after his election to the city council in April of 2016, ” a report of election expenses is incomplete or that contains a statement or information is false “, one can read in the statement of offence.

“The minimum fine is $ 5,000,” says the report.

If he is found guilty, Mr. Milot could also lose the right to be mayor or a candidate in elections for a period of five years.

These are the former opponents of Mr. Milot in the race for mayor, Lise Gendron and Peter Morabito, who are at the origin of the complaint to the DGEQ.

“I take responsibility for this complaint, but I do not think that it would be subject to charges to maneuver up to the election,” said Ms. Gendron. I discovered multiple irregularities in his campaign accounts. My complaint was 71 pages. “

“Mr. Milot had in his service a director of communications, but it does not appear anywhere in its report of expenses “, citing the example of Mr. Morabito.

Ms. Gendron and Mr. Morabito did not wish to say more, because Mr. Milot has given notice to no longer speak on the subject.

Reached by telephone, the mayor of Sainte-Adèle says he will plead not guilty to this new charge and that he will be contesting before the Court of Québec.

“This is hard “, he says.