Toronto, Peel trustees win their seats back
Pair booted for failing to file election expenses on time
Two trustees who were ousted from their jobs for failing to file their election expenses on time have been reinstated.
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has ruled that Harkirat Singh can return to his post as a trustee with the Peel District School Board and that David Smith can go back to his job at the Toronto District School Board.
Both had been removed from office for failing to file their expenses by the strict deadline under the Municipal Elections Act of March 27 at 2 p.m.
In written decisions released on Friday, Justice Jennifer Woollcombe ruled that the penalty of losing their positions as trustees as well as losing the right to run in the next election outweighed the error of missing the filing deadline.
Smith had explained in affidavits filed with the court that he missed the deadline because he was driving back from Northern Ontario with an injured foot, which delayed his journey.
He arrived one hour and13 minutes past his deadline. Singh had explained that his accountant wasn’t aware of the exact filing deadline. Star Staff