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A member of Parliament violated the Canada Elections Act when he tried to hide a $21,000 personal payment to an Ottawa consulting firm during the 2008 election, the Crown alleged Monday as Dean Del Mastro’s trial kicked off.

A Crown lawyer at the trial told court the case might be considered unusual. Tom Lemon says a large documentary record and several witnesses will be involved in the Del Mastro trial, which got underway in Peterborough, Ont.

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Del Mastro has pleaded not guilty to charges of overspending during the 2008 federal election campaign and failing to report a personal contribution to his own campaign.

He is accused of paying Ottawa-based Holinshed Research $21,000 for consulting work — an amount that would have put him over the maximum $2,100 candidates can contribute to their own campaigns.

Elections Canada also alleges Del Mastro tried to cover up his overspending by knowingly submitting a falsified document. He denies any wrongdoing.