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The Ontario Municipal Elections Act says no one can donate more than $1,200 to a single candidate and more than $5,000 to two or more candidates running for council. Candidates must warn contributors about the maximum donation amounts.

If the city’s clerk finds that a contributor might have violated the act, the clerk must report to the election compliance audit committee, which then decides whether there should be a legal proceeding against the contributor. Convictions in court can lead to fines.

Auditors found six contributors who appear to have donated more than the $5,000 maximum to multiple candidates. All of them are connected to the development industry.

Troy van Haastrecht allegedly over-contributed by $1,000 across seven candidates. Joanna van Haastrecht, who listed the same address in her contribution records, allegedly over-contributed by $500 across six candidates.

Francesco Cairo allegedly over-contributed by $1,000 over seven candidates.

John Riddell allegedly over-contributed by $1,000 over five candidates.

Ron Tomlinson allegedly over-contributed by $300 across five candidates.

Cuckoo Kochar allegedly over-contributed by $600 across nine candidates.

This newspaper reached out for comment to all of the alleged contribution violators by phone or email but only heard back from Kochar.

Kochar, president and chief executive of DCR/Phoenix, said: “We were very careful in our contributions during the elections and I did not cross my limit of $5,000.”