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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Former MP, now mayor faces fraud charges
London, Ontario, mayoralty candidate Joe Fontana and wife Vicky react to election results coming in that show Fontana in a virtual dead-heat with incumbent Anne Marie DeCicco-Best in the municipal election in London, Ontario, Monday, October 25, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dave Chidley (CP)
LONDON, Ont. -- The mayor of London, Ont., has been charged with fraud following an investigation into the alleged inappropriate use of funds when he was a federal cabinet minister and Liberal member of Parliament.
The RCMP said Joe Fontana was charged Wednesday with fraud under $5,000, breach of trust by a public official and uttering forged documents.
The force said the charges followed an investigation that began after it was contacted by the House of Commons last month regarding the allegations.
No details were provided about those allegations, but the London Free Press has reported two government of Canada cheques were given to a London club to cover the cost of the wedding reception for Fontana's son, Michael, in 2005.
It said the first cheque was for a deposit of $1,700 and a second cheque for $18,900 was received several months later.
A media officer with the RCMP said the value of fraud Fontana is charged with is set at $1,700.
"At this time, there is no evidence to suggest or support that other government funding was received for Joseph Fontana's personal expenses," said RCMP Sgt. Richard Rollings.
Fontana has previously denied the allegations.
In a letter posted on his website on Tuesday, he did not directly address the allegations but said he would not let them interfere with his job as mayor.
"Make no mistake, I treat the allegations that have been levied as serious, but I have not and will not allow them to be a distraction from my duties and obligations of my office," Fontana wrote.
"I will not stand aside or leave my responsibilities as mayor."
A motion was to be tabled at the city's finance committee on Monday calling on Fontana to temporarily step aside as mayor pending the outcome of the RCMP investigation.
A similar motion was introduced at council on Oct. 30 but was shut down without debate.
"This is very disconcerting," said Coun. Joni Baechler.
"I think it lends credence to my request, which was going to be on Monday (at finance committee), that he step aside until the allegations are dealt with in court."
Fontana's lawyer, Gordon Cudmore, says the mayor will appear at a news conference today to address his "political future."
Cudmore refused to say whether Fontana would announce plans to temporarily step aside as mayor.
Fontana is to appear in court on Jan. 8.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 22, 2012 A11
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