Elections Canada wants Tories to open books amid delegate fee controversy

OTTAWA (CP) - Canada's chief electoral officer wants the federal Conservative party to open its books following a revelation by the Harper government's accountability quarterback that the party failed to report delegate fees to its 2005 convention.

Liberal and NDP MPs say the omission, which came to light when Treasury Board President John Baird was speaking to a Senate committee, means the Tories broke political financing laws and potentially collected millions of dollars in unreported donations.

"The public has a right to know exactly what happened in this case," chief electoral officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley said in a release late Thursday.

"The chief electoral officer requests the Conservative Party of Canada to provide him with the necessary documents and supporting information to allow the public to know the law has been respected."

http://www.cjob.com/news/index.aspx?dir=national&src=ext&rem=./n062972A.xml

I have a hunch someone out there will come forth with a tax receipt for this convention (contrary to Conservative claims that there were no tax receipts given) in a little while.