A 2022 mayoral candidate and former MPP could face sanctions for campaign finance violations.
The deadline to submit financial information from the 2022 municipal election campaign has come and gone and it appears the mayoral runner up has left out some required information on his filing.
Khalil Ramal, the former London-Fanshawe Member of Provincial Parliament, received a donation that was above the $1,200 limit and didn’t include the addresses of anyone who donated to his campaign.
“On our website, they put their name and how much they donate. We couldn’t get the address,” Ramal said on Wednesday when reached by London News Today, noting that he was unaware that donor address collection is required by the province. “I should look for the name, call them up and get their addresses. I’ll call them.”
All donations over $100 must be tracked by candidates, according to the Municipal Elections Act.
Ramal received 27 such donations and didn’t record addresses for any of the people that made them. Two donations – one valued at $200 and the other at $1,000 – didn’t have a name or address attached to it.
The donation that exceeded the upper limit was from Sil Palumbo, who is the President of London developer Palumbo Homes – who donated $1,495.
Palumbo didn’t return a call to London News Today seeking comment on the donation.
“I’m confused about [donor limits]. Some people told me $2,500 max, some people told me $1,500 for Mayor of London. I’ve seen in Toronto some people donate $2,500 for Mayor,” Ramal said.
Donations to a mayoral candidate in Toronto are capped at $2,500. All other municipal races in Ontario have a $1,200 maximum donation.
When informed about the rule by London News Today, Ramal said he would return the $295 overage to Palumbo.
Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act states that candidates must keep the names and addresses of donors on file, and submit them to the municipality as part of their end of campaign filing.
“You are required to list the names and addresses of every contributor who gives more than $100 total to your campaign in your financial statement. You should keep a record of the names and addresses of every contributor, regardless of the value of their contribution, because the same contributor may make multiple contributions that end up totalling more than $100,” the province’s list of rules for municipal for candidates says.
Ramal could face sanctions for the missing information on his financial statement.
According to the elections act, “an elector who is entitled to vote in an election and believes on reasonable grounds that a candidate has contravened a provision of this Act relating to election campaign finances may apply for a compliance audit of the candidate’s election campaign finances.”
If Ramal is found to have violated the act, he could face fines or be barred from running in the 2026 municipal election.
The campaign’s issues also included the balance sheet.
His forms say he raised $15,515.66 during the campaign, while spending $48,302.29 – a deficit of $32,786.63.
“I don’t expect people to pay for me. But I have to pay it I guess. That’s the way it goes, I guess. You have to be responsible for it. I don’t expect people to pay my bill,” Ramal said. “I have to pay it. Simple as that. I’ll pay it.”
Josh Morgan won the mayoral race in October of 2022 – earning 46,283 votes. Ramal finished second – 30,371 votes behind Morgan.
“I don’t regret a minute of [the campaign],” Ramal said. I’ll continue to advocate for the people who voted for me.”
He also wished Morgan and the rest of council well in their efforts to steer the city in key areas such as homelessness and the environment.
Ramal served as the MPP for London-Fanshawe between 2003 and 2011.
He ran for the seat federally in 2015, but was defeated by Irene Mathyssen.
During the 2019 campaign, he attempted once again to seek the Liberal nomination but was denied by party headquarters.
