Rob Clarke facing fines after dropping out of Sask. Party race

Rob Clarke, who remains on the ballot but has dropped out of the Saskatchewan Party leadership race, is facing a substantial fine for not filing the second round of financial returns, which were due Jan. 15.

“Although Mr. Clarke has missed the January 15 filing deadline for submitting his Preliminary Leadership Election Return, he is still required under the rules to file this return, as well as a Final Leadership Election Return that includes all of his expenses incurred by March 28, 2018,” Sask. Party executive director Patrick Bundrock said in a statement.

For missing the deadline, Clarke has been fined $5,000 by the party, plus $1,000 for each day his filing is late. According to Bundrock’s statement, Clarke has also been suspended from making a presentation during this weekend’s leadership convention.

Although he is being fined, suspended from events and withdrawn from the race, Clarke, who threw his support behind Ken Cheveldayoff, — remains on ballots.

“Rob Clarke is still a nominated candidate, so any votes he receives will be calculated and counted, business as usual,” said the Sask. Party.

Rumours and concerns are being raised in some corners of the leadership race that Clarke is using his own resources to support Cheveldayoff ’s campaign.

But the party said: “All candidates and their campaigns have been advised that they are not allowed to incur expenses on behalf of another candidate. We have received no reports of Mr. Clarke incurring any expenses on behalf of another campaign.”

Asked how the party is able to monitor Clarke’s funding without him having filed returns, the party said, “Candidates are required and expected to abide by the rules. We have no reason to believe that Mr. Clarke is directing his expenses to another campaign, and have received no complaints from any of the campaigns alleging that.”

Reached by phone Monday, Clarke said he is hoping his financial agent will be filing his returns “fairly soon.”

Asked what he made of the fines levied against him — totalling $12,000 on Monday — Clarke said, “Oh wow, I wasn’t aware of that.”

He said he would be following up with the party “right now” and that he has to review everything with his financial agent.

The party said it contacted Clarke via email, informing him of the fine and missed deadline, on Jan. 17.

Clarke could not be reached for further comment.

We have no reason to believe that Mr. Clarke is directing his expenses to another campaign.