EDMONTON—Alberta’s Election Commissioner is concerned that an unnamed individual is attempting to dissuade people from participating with his investigation into “irregular financial contributions” during the UCP leadership race.

In a letter sent to a person who participated in the investigation, obtained by StarMetro, Commissioner Lorne Gibson raises concerns that an individual has been pressuring one or more persons involved “in order to dissuade cooperation with investigators and hinder the proper disposition of matters in order to avoid these proceedings,” Gibson wrote.

The letter, sent on Thursday, notes this type of interference could result in a $50,000 fine and imprisonment for up to two years for the person doing it as it could be considered a “corrupt practice” by law.

StarMetro has confirmed at least three people of interest to the election commissioner’s investigation received the letter this week.

StarMetro has also learned that the commissioner has hired two retired police officers to dig into allegations that illegal donations fuelled candidate Jeff Callaway’s bid for the UCP leadership in 2017. Callaway’s bid was allegedly a “stalking horse” campaign run by the eventual winner, Jason Kenney, in order to smear his biggest rival in the race, former Wildrose Party leader Brian Jean.

“If you have been contacted by any person who has, or has attempted to, influence your participation in this investigation it is very important that you bring this information to the attention of my Office immediately,” the letter from Gibson says.

In response to questions submitted by StarMetro, UCP Executive Director Janice Harrington said, “We are not aware of the letter in question and cannot speculate on who the supposed unnamed individual referred to within may be.

“The Party is not aware of anyone pressuring people not to participate in an Election Commissioner investigation and would encourage all Albertans, be they members or not, to abide by all laws.”

Harrington said neither Kenney, his leadership campaign team nor the party have been approached by the election commissioner.

“The Party would not and has not discouraged any individual from cooperating with the Election Commissioner as legally required. We expect laws to be enforced, and we of course expect the Election Commissioner to carry out his mandate,” Harrington said.

The party also denies allegations that Callaway’s bid was used as a proxy by Kenney to attack Jean and Callaway has previously stated his campaign was legitimate.

The reason for the heavy fines and potential jail time is because under the Election Act, people can’t obstruct the commissioner from carrying out his investigation. It could result in a finding of “corrupt practice,” wrote Gibson, resulting in jail time, a heavy fine or both.

The “kamikaze mission” allegations surfaced in December with a recording of long-time political organizer Wendy Adam discussing a plot to use Callaway in order to smear Jean. Callaway would eventually drop out of the race and endorse Kenney.

The Callaway run would allow things to be said about Jean that Kenney would not be able to say, the Adam recording said.

However, the commissioner has been looking into how Callaway’s campaign was funded.

Happy Mann, a failed nomination candidate for the UCP, says he attended meetings with Kenney and his campaign manager, John Weissenberger, to discuss how to fund the Callaway run.

Mann and two of his relatives donated $3,000 each to Callaway’s campaign, but he has previously declined to speak about the contributions on the advice of his lawyer.

StarMetro has learned of two complaints sent to the commissioner’s office questioning the validity of individual donations made to Callaway’s campaign.

One was sent by an anonymous individual in December, but another was sent by former UCP MLA Prab Gill earlier this month. He previously left the party over a ballot-stuffing controversy and now sits as an independent in the legislature.

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In his complaint, Gill named a number of individuals who made significant donations to the Callaway campaign numbering in the thousands of dollars. Gill had previously stated in the legislature that he was concerned about allegations that $40,000 in donations was made to Callaway’s campaign from a political action committee associated with Kenney.

Under the province’s Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act, an individual can only donate their own money to a leadership campaign. Contravening the act could result in a $10,000 fine.

With files from Trevor Howell.

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