Mimosas, cigars and ribs: Politicians deny dining with former Calgary councillor at expense claim trial
Trial of former Ward 2 rep involves expense claims from 2017 to 2019
The mayor of Halifax and a Quebec cabinet minister were among those who testified Monday at the fraud trial for former Calgary city councillor Joe Magliocca.
Magliocca, 59, is charged with fraud and breach of trust by a public officer stemming from alleged falsified expense claims submitted to the City of Calgary between Oct. 23, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2019.
During that time, Magliocca was a city representative at Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conferences.
Monday marked the beginning of a parade of politicians — current and former — who are listed on expense claims as having been hosted by Magliocca during his travel, a requirement for the former councillor to justify requesting reimbursement from the city.
The Crown witnesses, 27 in total, who either attended FCM conferences or Quebec's Winter Carnival, are expected to testify that they do not know Joe Magliocca and were not hosted by him for meals or drinks.
On Monday, Quebec Minister of Infrastructure Jonatan Julien was the first politician to testify.
Mimosas and coffee
A receipt presented by the Crown shows that Magliocca claimed to have hosted Julien at Pub L'Oncle Antoine in Quebec City on Feb. 10, 2019.
Four mimosas and several coffee-based drinks were included on the $60 bill.
But Julien told the court he doesn't know Magliocca and has never met the former councillor.
On the date in question, Julien testified he was in Sept-Îles on ministerial business.
When asked about the first time Julien had learned of Magliocca, the minister explained it was when he was questioned by RCMP in connection with the expense claim investigation.
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Politicians from across Canada to be called in former Calgary councillor Joe Magliocca's fraud trial
The 2018 FCM conference was held in Halifax and was "a big event for the city," according to Mayor Mike Savage, who also testified Monday.
The conference ended Sunday June 3, 2018 with a gala dinner.
Halifax mayor not at $214 dinner
But a receipt shows Magliocca claimed a $214 chicken-and-rib dinner at Baton Rouge on the Monday, and listed Savage and an Ottawa councillor as his dining companions.
"Have you ever met Joe Magliocca?" asked prosecutor Aaron Rankin.
Savage responded: "Not to my knowledge."
The mayor said he was "confused" after learning he'd been listed as having had dinner with Magliocca and checked his calendar to be sure.
Former Quebec City councillor Vincent Dufresne was listed on an expense claim as having shared spiced rum drinks and cigars with Magliocca at Société Cigare on May 20, 2019.
'I didn't have any meal with him'
Dufresne testified he's never attended the cigar bar and said the only time he'd ever met Magliocca was three months earlier at Carnaval de Québec events that past February.
Toronto City Coun. Paul Ainsley also testified he was not in attendance at a restaurant meal with Magliocca despite being listed on the former Calgary councillor's expense claim.
Ainsley told the court he's met Magliocca one time at an FCM finance committee meeting in 2019.
Ainsley was listed as having shared a $92 meal at Sapristi, a restaurant in Quebec City, on June 2, 2019.
"No, I didn't have any meal with him," Ainsley told the court. "I didn't have any interaction with him at all."
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