Some city councillors are returning campaign contributions from a company owned by Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz.

The headquarters for pharmacy franchise, The Medicine Shoppe, wrote cheques for between $250 to $295 to each of the Edmonton councillors.

While the contributions are miniscule — less than 0.5 per cent brought in by each campaign — some councillors want to avoid any link with owner Daryl Katz during negotiations for the downtown arena.

"I wasn't impressed then with how they were doing business and ... I didn't want to be associated with them at that time," said Coun. Don Iveson, who returned the money in 2010 when he learned of the connection between Katz and the franchise.

Councillor Amarjeet Sohi wasn't aware Katz owned the Medicine Shoppe until told by CBC News.

"If there's a perception about a link between Medicine Shoppe and the Katz Group, I have no problem returning that money," he said.

While Bryan Anderson also sent the money back, others such as Ben Henderson, Ed Gibbons and Linda Sloan say they'll keep it — insisting that $300, or any other contribution, can't buy their votes.

Elections Alberta is investigating a donation of at least $300,000 from Katz, some family members and employees to the provincial Tories during this spring's election.