+34
Court documents obtained Friday by CBC News reveal it was Justin Towndale, the incumbent candidate seeking a second term as mayor of Cornwall, Ont., who recently raised concerns about past campaign filings of his main rival, Sarah Good, sparking a process that has now involved the courts and potentially jeopardizing Good's candidacy.
Court documents obtained Friday by CBC News reveal it was Justin Towndale, the incumbent candidate seeking a second term as mayor of Cornwall, Ont. , who recently raised concerns about past campaign filings of his main rival, Sarah Good, sparking a process that has now involved the courts and potentially jeopardizing Good's candidacy.
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. According to an affidavit, incumbent mayoral candidate Justin Towndale recently filed a complaint alleging one of his chief rivals, Sarah Good, failed to submit necessary financial information following her election to city council in 2022.
Court documents obtained Friday by CBC News reveal it was Justin Towndale, the incumbent candidate seeking a second term as mayor of Cornwall, Ont. , who recently raised concerns about past campaign filings of his main rival, Sarah Good, sparking a process that has now involved the courts and potentially jeopardizing Good's candidacy.
Earlier this week, the City of Cornwall publicly disclosed that someone recently raised concerns about Good, the one-term councillor who's vying to become mayor of the eastern Ontario city of about 47,000 people. On Aug. 21 — the last day candidates could file their nomination papers and the day after Good filed hers — somebody alerted the city that back in March 2023, Good did not include an auditor's report when she submitted financial documents related to her successful 2022 run for one of Cornwall's 10 regular council seats.
Under Ontario's Municipal Elections Act, that could make her ineligible to run in this year's election. An affidavit sworn earlier this week by Cornwall's current municipal elections lead, Denise Labelle-Gélinas, stated that Towndale told her on Aug. 21 that he had obtained information indicating Good received contributions in excess of $10,000 during the 2022 municipal election, and that she had not filed an auditor’s report.
"Mr. Towndale informed me that he had been in possession of this information since before August 21, 2026, but did not previously raise any concerns. It is unknown to me exactly when Mr. Towndale first became aware of the matter," Labelle-Gélinas wrote.
"At the time, I informed Mr. Towndale in response that any concern regarding a candidate’s campaign finance filings should have been brought to the city clerk’s attention at the relevant time following the 2022 municipal election. Nevertheless, Mr. Towndale’s inquiry prompted me to review Ms. Good’s file from the 2022 municipal election.
"The city is now seeking a local Superior Court judge's advice on whether Good did indeed have to provide an auditor's report, and whether the penalties spelled out in the act should apply to her. If the court determines a "default" did occur and "that the statutory consequences apply," the city "will act," it previously told CBC News.
"I genuinely believe that anyone who had been made aware that there may be an issue with a financial statement from a previous election, especially in an active council, ought to reasonably know that that information should be brought forward immediately — not withheld to be used to prevent a candidate from running in an election," she said Thursday. In a text message to CBC on Friday, Towndale said he hadn't seen the affidavit and is hoping to issue a statement Friday or Saturday.
Two other candidates, Art Levert and Nicole Spahich, are also in the race to become Cornwall's next mayor. A court hearing about the future of Good's candidacy is taking place in Cornwall on Friday afternoon.
"A timely answer to this question could not be more critical," John Pappas, the lawyer for the city, told the courtroom as the hearing got underway. Justice Julie Bergeron said it's concerning the city only took this to the court this week given concerns were first raised more than a month ago.
Please follow us on Google to support usCanada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Family of Renee Good sues U.S. government and immigration officials over Minneapolis killingThe family of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three shot by an immigration officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, filed two lawsuits Thursday against the U.S. government and officials behind the immigration crackdown, alleging wrongful death, conspiracy and excessive force.
Read more »
Renee Good's family sues U.S. government, ICE officer and others over Minneapolis killingLawsuits filed by Renee Good's family allege wrongful death, conspiracy and other violations in the 37-year-old's fatal shooting by a U.S. immigration officer during an immigration crackdown in January.
Read more »
Family Of Renee Good Sues ICE Officer And Trump OfficialsICE officer Jonathan Ross could be heard on video muttering “f**king bitch” after he fatally shot Good.
Read more »
Cornwall mayoral hopeful's candidacy in limbo over 'malicious' paperwork complaintThe ballots for this month's municipal election in Cornwall, Ont., have already been printed, but whether electors will actually be able to vote for one of the four candidates for mayor is now mired in uncertainty.
Read more »