Joelle Kovach, QMI Agency
, Last Updated: 7:08 PM ET
LINDSAY, Ont. - The prime minister's former parliamentary secretary has been found guilty of Election's Act offences during his 2008 campaign.
Dean Del Mastro was convicted on Friday of overspending, under-reporting and with having filed an incorrect return to Elections Canada.
The thrust of the case came from work the Peterborough, Ont., MP contracted from voting research firm Holinshead in 2008. The prosecution claimed Del Mastro ordered $21,000 in work ─ and paid for it with a personal cheque ─ but then claimed just $1,575 when it was realized that the $21,000 put them over the campaign spending limit.
During her review of the case, Cameron dismissed much of Del Mastro's testimony. She said his claim that accuser Frank Hall of Holinshead Research had falsified e-mail correspondence wasn't credible.
"He frequently obfuscated the evidence," she said, listing 12 specific questions he would not answer during his testimony.
"I am leaded to reject Dean Del Mastro's evidence" on most issues, she told court.
Cameron concluded that Holinshead was contracted to do election, that the $21,000 cheque was for election work, and the campaign took steps to cover up the overpayment in its Elections Canada reporting.
His accountant at the time, Richard McCarthy, was found guilty on two of three charges.
Outside court, Del Mastro said the judge got it wrong, and hinted at an appeal.
"I strongly disagree with the judge's ruling - but we'll take it one step at a time," he said,
He said he has no plans to step down as MP. "I intend to still occupy (my seat,)" he said. "I received more votes than anyone in my riding in history."
However, the Elections Act calls for anyone convicted of an offence under the act to be barred from holding office for five years from the date of conviction.
His former Conservative colleagues weren't optimistic of his future in the party.
"Dean Del Mastro has not been sitting in the conservative caucus for some time. We've been clear in the party with the standard of behavior that we expect from our caucus and the verdict today speaks for itself, Immigration Minister Chris Alexander said.
Del Mastro returns to court in Lindsay, Ont., Nov. 21.
Each conviction could result in a $2,000 fine, a year in prison or both.
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