Magliocca matter officially closed at city council after councillor repays nearly $10K

The final report into Ward 2 Coun. Joe Magliocca's ineligible expenses was submitted to the city's priorities and finance committee on Tuesday, officially closing the matter at city council.

The city received a final cheque from Magliocca last month for $3,762.88, which resolved all outstanding financial issues related to the city's investigation, the report said.

Overall, Magliocca repaid the city $9,983.54 after discrepancies were identified in hosting and travel expenses claimed by the councillor.

A forensic audit ordered by city council in July 2020, concluded that Magliocca improperly claimed expenses for business hospitality meetings he allegedly had with other people.

They included meals and alcohol he said he purchased for politicians he met with, but some of those politicians deny those meetings ever took place. 

The audit report was handed to the Calgary Police Service for investigation, who referred the matter to the RCMP. 

That investigation is ongoing. 

Not all sanctions met by councillor

Magliocca offered an apology in February 2020, when errors on expense claims after a 2019 conference in Quebec City came to light.

"Taxpayers deserve better and I am deeply sorry. I have since personally paid back all alcohol and hosting expenses that I incurred during this convention," he said at the time.

As a result of the ineligible expense claims, council voted to impose four sanctions on Magliocca last year.

It wrote a letter of reprimand to him, requested he write a public letter of apology and take training on proper city procedures, and barred him from submitting any business travel expenses until the end of the current council term.

The city confirmed Magliocca did take the required training, and business travel by any council member remains a rare event during the pandemic, rendering that sanction a non-issue.

But Magliocca has not yet written a public apology letter, and has refused to comment on the problems with his travel claims or how this happened.

He hasn't offered any explanation for why he submitted claims for meals and drinks he bought for people who weren't actually at the same table.

He also did not respond to a request for comment from CBC News on Tuesday.