Gift Lake, Peavine face illegal election contribution charges

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

Two High Prairie area Metis Settlements will be back in High Prairie provincial court March 5 to enter pleas to charges stemming from improper election contributions to Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pearl Calahasen. Gift Lake Metis Settlement and Peavine Metis Settlement did not appear in court Jan. 15 to answer to the charges under the Election Finances and Contribution Disclosure Act. Crown prosecutor Keith Joyce asked presiding Judge J.A. Watson to adjourn the matter to March 5 for plea. He told court he spoke to the special prosecutors handling the case, who asked for the adjournment. “I don’t know if it’s for plea or summery disposition,” says Joyce. The charges stem from allegations that police are making that both Gift Lake and Peavine donated $500 to Calahasen’s successful re-election campaign. Other companies owned by Peavine Metis Settlement are alleged to have contributed $1,000 each. Under election laws, Metis settlements and companies directly associated with them are prohibited from making political donations. Calahasen, then the Aboriginal Affairs Minister, was responsible at the time for helping ensure that Metis settlements are accountable and law-abiding. NDP Leader Brian Mason was quoted in The Edmonton Journal saying that if the allegations prove to be true, Calahasen should have known better. “Certainly, accepting campaign donations from the Metis settlements is something her campaign ought to have known was a violation of the act,” says Mason, adding Calahasen must bear the brunt of that responsibility. The issue arose when a settlement member phoned Auditor General Fred Dunn with the tip, which prompted the investigation and resulted in charges.

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