 At the time of the lawsuit, O'Leary still owed $430,000 to creditors.O'Leary had proposed to Elections Canada that he pay off the debt now with his own money and fundraise the money later, but was rebuffed, since this would be illegal.O'Leary made public statements that the law promoted mediocrity since rich people would be discouraged from running and hurt the businesses who had pledged money for his failed leadership campaign.