ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – The official agent for a former federal Conservative cabinet minister has been charged under the Canada Elections Act.
The Commissioner of Canada Elections says Reginald Bowers is facing three charges stemming from the 2011 federal election.
Bowers was the agent and campaign manager for Peter Penashue, who was intergovernmental affairs minister before he resigned his Commons seat over donations made during the 2011 campaign.
He repaid $30,000 and ran unsuccessfully in a byelection in the riding of Labrador in May 2013.
Bowers is charged with failing to return ineligible contributions made to the candidate within 30 days either to the contributor or in a contribution to the chief electoral officer.
He also faces two charges of providing the chief electoral officer with a document that he knew or ought reasonably to have known contained a material statement that was false or misleading.
Those charges separately relate to accurately identifying ineligible campaign contributions and failing to accurately report travel expenses.
