Jeff Callaway (rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Canadian Press

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United Conservative leadership candidate fined nearly $70,000

Jul 18, 2019 | 2:35 PM

EDMONTON – One of the candidates in Alberta’s 2017 United Conservative leadership race has been hit with $70,000 in fines for breaking fundraising rules.

The penalty against Jeff Callaway is for two dozen separate offences and includes a $15,000 fine for colluding to circumvent contribution limits.

Callaway has also been fined for accepting prohibited contributions, and for giving money to third parties who in turn donated that money back to his campaign.

Callaway was one of three candidates who ran against Jason Kenney for the UCP’s top job.

Documents and correspondence have indicated that the Callaway and Kenney teams worked together to undermine Kenney’s main rival, former Wildrose Party leader Brian Jean.

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Callaway quit before the vote and backed Kenney, who won the race.

Kenney became premier when he led the party to victory in April’s election, but he has dismissed any collaboration with Callaway as traditional politics.

The RCMP is also looking into the UCP leadership race following allegations of voter fraud.

The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service is seeking a prosecutor to help advise police as they look into the campaign.