A year ago, acting as a Minister of the Crown Joe Volpe was rather busy trying to set up and smear then Conservative MP Gurmant Grewal.* Mr. Volpe, now in the opposition and a Liberal leadership hopeful, invites some controversy of his own to bypass electoral law regarding donations to his leadership campaign made by Apotex executives, their wives, and their children.

Liberal leadership hopeful Joe Volpe has received $54,000 in donations from two drug company executives and their wives and kids.

Liberal leadership hopeful Joe Volpe has received $54,000 in donations from two drug company executives and their wives and kids.Under a new political financing law that went into force in 2004, corporate donations to leadership contestants are strictly prohibited. But while a company cannot contribute money to a campaign, individual Canadians including a company’s executives, employees and family members are each entitled to give a maximum of $5,400.

When the law was introduced, critics argued it amounted to a loophole that would allow companies to circumvent the ban on corporate donations.

According to a statement of contributions filed by Volpe with Elections Canada, Barry Sherman, CEO and chairman of generic drug manufacturer Apotex Inc., donated $5,400 to the Toronto MP’s leadership bid.

Sherman’s wife, Honey, and four children - all residing at the same address - also gave $5,400 each.

Apotex president Jack Kay, his wife, Patricia, and two children donated $5,400 each as well.

According to Apotex public affairs director Elie Betito, four of the six children listed as donors are teenagers.

* Typo corrected. Thanks Cynic.