LONDON, Ont. – The mayor of London, Ont., has been charged with fraud and other charges related to the alleged inappropriate use of funds when he was a federal cabinet minister and Liberal member of Parliament.

The RCMP said Joe Fontana is charged with fraud under $5000, breach of trust by a public official and uttering forged documents.

The former cabinet minister was facing allegations he used more than $1,700 in federal government money to help pay for his son’s wedding reception in 2005.

Fontana has previously denied the allegations.

In a letter posted on his website on Tuesday, he did not directly address the allegations but said he would not let them interfere with his job as mayor.

“Make no mistake, I treat the allegations that have been levied as serious, but I have not and will not allow them to be a distraction from my duties and obligations of my office,” Fontana wrote.

“I will not stand aside or leave my responsibilities as mayor,” wrote Fontana.

A motion was to be tabled at the city’s Finance Committee on Monday calling on Fontana to temporarily step aside as mayor pending the outcome of the RCMP investigation.

A similar motion was introduced at council on Oct. 30, but was shut down without debate.

Fontana is to appear in court on Jan. 8.