P.E.I. Tory official agent faces 42 charges over party donations

The Mounties in P.E.I. have charged an official agent for the Island’s governing Progressive Conservatives with 42 offences under the province's Election Expenses Act. RCMP logo shown in Edmonton, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

The Mounties in P.E.I. have have charged an official agent for the Island’s governing Progressive Conservatives with 42 offences under the provincial Election Expenses Act.

The RCMP issued a statement Friday saying an investigation started in August after the police force was approached by Elections PEI.

The Mounties say the alleged offences relate to donations made last year.

Investigators allege some donations violated the Election Expenses Act or were not reported in accordance with the legislation.

Police say each of the offences in question carry a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine.

The accused is scheduled to appear in Charlottetown provincial court on Oct. 29.

On Oct. 6, the party’s president, Robert Larsen, issued a statement saying Elections P.E.I. had flagged three issues with the organization’s 2025 contributions.

Larsen said seven donations allegedly exceeded the contribution limit, which was set at $3,350 for individuals in 2025, according to the Elections PEI website.

As well, the party received money from someone in Nova Scotia who bought a ticket to a fundraising dinner, and that money has since been returned.

The party also filed its 2025 contribution records a day late, Larsen said.

Earlier this month, the province’s chief electoral officer said his office always conducts an internal audit of contributions logged by all of the province’s political parties. Tim Garrity said that if that audit uncovers any problems, the elections authority passes the file on to the RCMP and the province’s Crown attorney’s office.

The province’s Progressive Conservative party has been in power since 2019. They currently hold 18 of 27 seats in the legislature.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026.

The Canadian Press