Calgary council member Dan McLean fined for breaching election law

Elections Alberta has given Calgary Coun. Dan McLean a $500 penalty for breaking the Local Authorities Election Act during his successful bid for a seat on city council last year.

Following a lengthy investigation, the agency concluded that McLean had accepted donations from corporations for an event during the 2021 election campaign, something which is not permitted under the act.

The Ward 13 councillor says he accepted merchandise and gift cards from local companies and then gave away the 100 donations as prizes at a campaign Stampede breakfast event in July 2021.

He says the donations were not intended to financially support his campaign.

"So we gave away a bunch of coupons and prizes and gift certificates to people that came for a Stampede breakfast. Of course we gave them free pancakes, I was promoting the Stampede as well," McLean said. "So yeah, everything I was doing I thought was for the best of intentions, for the greater good."

Although he received legal advice at the time, McLean says accepting the donated items was a mistake made in good faith. 

Jay Unsworth, who ran against McLean in Ward 13, was one of at least two people who filed complaints about McLean accepting the donations.

In a statement to CBC News, he said he is pleased that McLean has now been held accountable for breaching the rules.

"It has been well over a year since I filed a complaint to Elections Alberta. Today's news is the result of a lengthy investigation that has found Mr. McLean guilty of receiving not one — but several unlawful contributions. Mr. McLean's response today is disappointing, but not surprising," he said.

"I respect the democratic process by which Mr. McLean was elected. However, as more of his wrongdoings come to light, I believe it's clear that we deserve far better representation."

McLean has until Jan. 20 to pay the penalty.