the second controversy occurred on february 25, 2010, when elections nova scotia fined the governing ndp $10,000, the maximum fine under the governing act, for accepting an illegal campaign donation from a trade union, referring the case to police. the agency said the ndp took more than $5,000 from a single donor and failed to return $45,000 from eight unions and one union affiliate, though it "knew or should have known" the money was all from the mainland building and construction trades council. after the release of the report, dexter stated that he had believed the money had been returned. party secretary ed wark resigned, citing a "serious error in judgment".