Conservatives Lose Fifth Caucus Member in Election Spending Scandal

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Ruling Conservative Caucus of Prime Minister Stephen Harper has lost their fifth caucus member during the same year due to another scandal, Harper’s former right-hand man in the House of Commons was charged on Thursday with improper election spending. Four charges were laid against Ontario MP, Dean Del Mastro, by The Commissioner of Canada Elections under the Canada Elections Act. A short while after the news was made public, the prime minister’s office announced that he “was no longer a member of the Conservative caucus.”

Consequently, Del Mastro also declared to have decided to step down from caucus until the matter is resolved. In his statement, Del Mastro stated “as I have consistently stated in the past, I entirely reject these allegations and look forward to the opportunity to defend myself in court.” However, he insisted to continue fully supporting the government. Apart from Mr. Mastro, four others have Conservative Caucus members, including Senators Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin over improper housing and travel claims, and cabinet minister Peter Penashue over ineligible campaign expenses have also left the caucus since March.

Del Mastro and his former official agent, Richard McCarthy, are both charged with three Canada Elections Act charges in connection with a $21,000 personal cheque Del Mastro wrote to a political consultant soon before the 2008 campaign. Both are charged with exceeding the legal election spending limit, filing a campaign return that was false or misleading, and filing a return that omitted required information.