2 men conflict over donation made to Conservatives
A Brampton, Ont., man, who said he was shocked to see his political donation end up with the Conservatives and not the Liberals, was fully aware his money was going to the Tories, the volunteer who brokered the payment told CBC News in a statement.
Jagdish Singh said the man he was in contact with to make party donations — Harbhajan Singh — is lying about the incident.
Earlier this week, Jagdish Singh told CBC News he only found out about the Tory donation when he saw his credit card had been billed $400 for a contribution to the Brampton North Conservative office belonging to candidate Parm Gill.
Harbhajan Singh would not give an interview to CBC News but said in a statement issued through his lawyer that Jagdish Singh was informed he was donating to the Conservative Party and "at no point did he refuse."
In May, Harbhajan Singh said he was approached by Gill to raise funds for his election campaign and he contacted Jagdish Singh via telephone "to request that he make a donation to Parm Gill's campaign" on May 15.
"I am unaware of the election rules," Harbhajan Singh said in a statement. He added the person in charge of campaign finances — Amarpal Gill — said Jagdish Singh's credit card information could be processed "without written authorization" and a "verbal authorization was enough."
The Conservative supporter describes himself as "only a volunteer." He said he met Jagdish Singh in 2012 but has only been involved with Gill's office for approximately one year.
Jagdish Singh said he's a lifelong Liberal supporter whose contributions have always gone to the Liberals and has been contributing to the party since he moved to the area years ago. He said Harbhajan Singh had previously contacted him about donations to the Liberal Party.
Jagdish Singh also said in a sworn affidavit provided to CBC News earlier this week he "never supported" Gill or the Conservative Party.
He added he was stunned the Tory candidate's office would "charge somebody's Visa card without explicit consent and signatures of the Visa card holder."
He said he raised the issue with Harbhajan Singh, who offered to personally refund the $400 contribution, but he rejected this resolution and requested the money be refunded from where it ended up: the Brampton North Conservative Electoral District Association.
The Tories said the Brampton North Electoral District Association did in fact refund the $400 contribution.
"When I saw my bill, I call to him, then I know he shift his parties, otherwise, he don't tell me nothing," Jagdish Singh told CBC News on Wednesday.
The Liberal Party issued a statement Wednesday acknowledging both men had contributed to the party at one time.
Calls made to Parm Gill's election campaign headquarters were not returned.
Earlier this week, the Conservatives told CBC News that Harbhajan Singh had no role with their campaign and they are investigating other donations involving him.
