Mayor’s team says oversight led to perception of improper funding

An error in listing a larger donor to Naheed Nenshi’s re-election bid created the impression it was made illegally, the mayor’s campaign said Wednesday.

But the explanation hasn’t satisfied Nenshi’s main rivals.

A day after Nenshi’s team released a rundown of 1,300 donors, the campaign said the inclusion of Ottawa Redblacks owner John Ruddy should have stated it came from the real estate developer’s firm, Trinity Development, campaign chair Chima Nkemdirim said in a statement.

“Mr. Ruddy made the donation online using his corporate credit card, and our campaign incorrectly attributed it to him and not the corporation,” said Nkemdirim.

Under the Local Authorities Election Act, individuals residing outside Alberta, including Ontarian Ruddy, can’t donate to civic campaigns, but companies that do business in the province can.

Trinity is currently developing a major housing project on Calgary’s Paskapoo Slopes.

On Tuesday, mayoral candidate Andre Chabot said what appeared to be a donation from a non-Albertan was illegal and called on the Nenshi campaign to send back the sum, which is somewhere between $2,501 and $5,000.

The damage to the donation’s appearance has been done, and the cash should still be returned, Chabot said Wednesday.

“Perception is reality … I’d seriously consider returning that donation,” he said.

Chabot has said he’ll release the names of all but two donors to his campaign before the Oct. 16 municipal vote.

In his statement, Nkemdirim said the mayor’s decision to disclose his donor names affirms the value of political transparency and contrasts those of Nenshi’s rivals.

“The Nenshi campaign remains the only mayoral campaign that has committed to disclosing our donors prior to Calgarians heading to the polls.” he said.

Rival Bill Smith said the attribution flip-flop raises doubts about the Nenshi campaign’s transparency.

“Suddenly it doesn’t look so transparent, it’s like they’re making up the rules on the fly,” he said. “It seems like a bit of a stretch.” Smith said he’ll follow the law that dictates donor lists must be disclosed six months after the election date.

He said Nenshi, who’s championed election finance reform, has been plenty of talk but little else.

“If they wanted to change the rules, they’ve had seven years,” said Smith, referring to Nenshi’s time as mayor.

Nenshi has also pressed Smith to take a stand on the city’s offer to the Calgary’s Flames ownership group to pay $185 million, or onethird the cost of a $555-million arena in the Victoria Park area.

Smith said he’ll wait to see the Flames’ offer, after the team said last Friday it would divulge it this week. Since then, the club hasn’t said when it’ll do so.