UCP nomination candidate withdraws for receiving illegal contribution

A candidate for the United Conservative Party nomination in Red Deer – South has withdrawn from the race after receiving an illegal campaign contribution.

Haley Wile was reprimanded by Alberta’s Election Commissioner, Lorne Gibson, in a letter dated Sept. 25 for a contribution she received from Red Deer Motors. The dealership was also reprimanded for making the contribution.

The amount of the contribution to Wile’s campaign has not been released. Wile has repaid the money back to the dealership, according to the Commissioner’s letter.

Wile was found to have violated sections 16 and 35 of the Election Contributions and Disclosure Act. The Act states that only individual persons are permitted to make contributions to political campaigns while prohibiting unions and corporations from doing so.