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“The initial results indicate that House of SAS, through its principal Sebastien Provost, significantly exceeded the agreed-upon budget. House of SAS was hired by Capital Pride to manage festival site production, entertainment and bar sales.”

The statement did not offer an explanation as to how one of the festival’s suppliers would have been able to exceed the budget without organizers being aware.

Capital Pride organizers said last week that they were investigating “accounting irregularities” that surfaced following the completion of the festival last month and that the probe could lead to a criminal investigation.

Provost on Tuesday night denied the allegations against him.

“I have no idea what they are talking about,” said Provost, himself a one-time chair of Capital Pride, and longtime bar owner and promoter in Ottawa. “My records indicate I was within the approved budget that was allocated to me.”

Provost said he sent an updated spreadsheet to Capital Pride treasurer Giselle Gardipy on Aug. 18, five days before the festival. It “fell within the approved budget,” said Provost.

Provost wouldn’t reveal what his budget was.

“I never signed any contracts, I had no signing authority for the board of directors. I had no access to the money,” said Provost.

“I was a facilitator, they were the approver. I worked within the budget that they gave me,” said Provost, who said he went to police after his own cheque bounced. “They signed all those cheques and they signed those contracts.”