Understanding the charges

- 2005: Joe Fontana, then a Federal Labour Minister, allegedly used two government cheques to cover the cost of his son's wedding reception:

1. $1,700 room deposit to the venue

2. $18,900 given to the venue several months later to cover the reception

- He was sworn in as Mayor of London in 2010

- Fontana's lawyer Gordon Cudmore confirmed the current allegations are pertaining to a $1,700 room deposit

- The RCMP has said there is no evidence suggesting that Mayor Fontana issued an alleged $18,900 cheque to the venue for the wedding reception

- Fontana is currently charged with three criminal offences by the RCMP:

1. Fraud under $5,000

2. Breach of trust by a public official

3. Uttering forged documents

- These charges have not been proven in court

- Some critics are citing the December 2007 case of former Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien, who temporarily stepped down while facing two criminal charges. After the charges were dismissed in court, O'Brien resumed his post as mayor

Impact

- Fontana resigned from the London Police Services board as required by the Police Services Act

- A symbolic motion to ask Mayor Fontana to step aside was passed at the Finance and Administrative Services Committee meeting on November 26 with a vote of 3-1

- The passed motion will be taken to Council for a final vote on December 11

- Fontana has said several times that he does not intend to step down and will plead not guilty in the case

- City councillors have no legal authority to force the mayor to step down

- Approximately 50 protesters from several local groups including Occupy London and Common Cause chanted outside of Fontana's press conference on November 22 expressing their concerns with the Mayor

- Fontana is due in court on January 8, 2013