“A lesson learned.”

That’s how David Wilks, in the running for the Federal Conservative nomination for Kootenay-Columbia, described his encounter with an individual he briefly employed on his campaign and left him stuck with the bill.

“I got sucked in by Joshua Chartier, A.K.A. Joshua Baba, A.K.A. Joshua Bredo. Crap happens.”

Chartier is alleged to have been involved in questionable promotions in Canada, including two locally, where the Corporation of the City of Cranbrook issued a disclaimer about him.

Chartier claimed to be putting on two events at the Rec Plex, one a “Mega Sale and Auto Show” Sept. 9 to 12 and the other was labelled a “Kootenay Mining, Resources and Technology Expo” May 27 to 29, 2011.

But a news release issued Aug. 12 by City Corporate Communications Officer Chris Zettel said any association Chartier claimed to have with the City is “untrue.”

“Be it known, the Corporation of the City of Cranbrook, Mayor Scott Manjak, members of Council and City administration have NO affiliation with this individual in any way and have provided no endorsement (implied or otherwise) for his business activities and solicitation.”

Whatever the truth about Chartier, Wilks says he regrets ever having anything to do with him. “I don’t know what it’s like in Cranbrook, but certainly in Sparwood, from a municipal standpoint, you do it yourself in campaigns. You don’t have anyone for the most part helping you. So, yeah, lesson learned.”

Wilks, who used Chartier’s services when he launched his campaign April 8, 2010, said he did this after receiving a call from Chartier “out of the blue,” but quickly became suspicious when Chartier seemed “somewhat eager.”

“But my spidey senses went up a bit. Then when I told him I was retired from the RCMP, he didn’t really want to be around me very much anymore. But unfortunately, some damage had already been done. Which I’ve dealt with.”

Wilks said the sum wasn’t large, but he was out of pocket for some signs, pictures and a website he didn’t know Chartier was creating. “I’ve covered it (the first two items) and I’m in the process of clearing the web page up and I have nothing to do with him (Chartier) anymore.”

Wilks said he was “shocked” to hear that Chartier had been seen again in Cranbrook the past month. “I thought his gig was up.” As for any damage Chartier may have done to his candidacy, Wilks said he believes he’s dealt with it by being forthright and admitting his mistake.

“I’ve dealt with it. I have no problems speaking about it. It was a mistake made and we all make mistakes. I caught it early enough and I’ve cleared up all the debt and we’ll go from there.”

Wilks said he’s been busy all summer attending events around the riding such as the Creston Blossom Festival and Sam Steele Days as well as selling memberships with about 500 sold so far.

No date has been set for the Conservative nomination meeting yet with Wilks and Creston Councillor Wes Graham the only declared candidates so far. Now that summer is almost over and there are no confidence motions threatening the minority Conservative government at the moment, Wilks says a fall nomination meeting appears “unlikely unless something strange happens.”

The Daily Townsman was not able to contact Chartier by press time.