Hoax Phone Calls Reported in 41 Ridings During 2011 Election
February 25th, 2012 | SixthEstate
Update 2 (February 26): The original chart has been replaced with a list including links to various allegations. This will be cleaned up further in the near future as formal complaints become available.
Update 1 (February 26): Two additional ridings have been added to the list based solely upon claims from party leaders. At this point the evidence situation is becoming quite cluttered. The next step for me will be to developd a brief summary for each riding of what the allegations are. In some cases, there are very specific and serious allegations; in others, we’re operating purely on a political party’s say-so.
It’s become increasingly clear that there was not one effort to suppress votes during the 2011 election: there were several, some with robocalls, some with live callers, some with just plain idiots participating. Let me make a prediction: within the next couple of weeks, we will hear from several Conservatives claiming they were being scammed too.
Too late. It’s been almost a year now. Bloggers like myself have repeatedly called attention to the issue. Liberal and NDP local offices said they were being victimized. Conservatives weren’t. Frankly, any complaints from that quarter going forward lack credibility.
In any event, I thought it would be helpful to create a list of ridings about which there has been some sort of allegation in the news regarding fake telephone calls during the previous election: calls impersonating another political party, or calls impersonating Elections Canada. This list will be updated regularly. Readers should provide information in the comments about additional ridings I have not got on the list. Those who want to contact me privately can do so at SixthEstateCanada@gmail.com.
1. Cambridge
- Postmedia: “Harassing phone calls”; Liberal switchboard jammed in a denial-of-service attack
- Guelph Record reported election-day robocalls identifying bogus polling places
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
2. Davenport
- Complaint filed by the NDP
3. Edmonton East
- Complaint of live fake Elections Canada calls submitted by NDP
4. Eglinton-Lawrence
- Postmedia: Fake callers impersonating the Liberal Party called Jews on Saturdays and even accidentally telephoned the Liberal phone bank, claiming to be a Liberal sign distributor
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
5. Egmont
- Postmedia: Live callers claiming to represent Liberal candidate Guy Gallant (but pronouncing his name wrong)
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
6. Elmwood Transcona
- Election-day robocalls were used to misdirect voters
- Complaint filed by the NDP
7. Essex
- Complaint filed by the NDP
8. Etobicoke Contre
- Toronto Star: A court case will begin this spring to hear allegations that Conservatives harassed Liberal voters and temporarily shut down a polling station.
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
9. Guelph
- Campaign worker Michael Sona resigned from the party when news of the scandal accelerated in February 2012
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
10. Haldimand-Norfolk
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
- Postmedia: Fake calls began overnight, impersonating the Liberal Party
11. Halton
- Elections Canada: Election-day robocalls misdirected voters
12. Hamilton East-Stoney Creek
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
13. Kitchener Waterloo
- Elections Canada: election-day robocalls misdirected voters
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
14. Kitchener-Conestoga
- Globe & Mail: The Conservatives called at least one voter anonymously and misdirected them to the wrong polling station. In answer to a formal complaint, the party blamed computer error.
- Guelph Record: election-day robocalls misdirect voters
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
15. London North Centre
- Postmedia: Phone campaign which falsely told people that the Liberal candidate spent half of each year in Africa
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
16. London West
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
17. Mississauga East-Cooksville
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
18. Niagara Falls
- Postmedia: Overnight callers impersonating the Liberal Party and being “rude”
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
19. Nipissing Timiskaming
- Liberals claim “evidence of voter suppression
20. Oakville
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
- Postmedia: callers with “fake accents” called voters pretending to represent Liberal candidate Max Khan
21. Ottawa Centre
- Complaint filed by the NDP
22. Ottawa Orleans
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
23. Ottawa West-Nepean
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
24. Parkdale-High Park
- Postmedia: Overnight phone calls by individuals claiming to represent the Liberal Party
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
- Complaint filed by the NDP
25. Perth-Wellington
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
26. Peterborough
- Conservatives report their campaign received “harassing phone calls”
27. Prince George-Peace River
- Elections Canada: Election-day robocalls misdirected voters
28. Saanich-Gulf Islands
- Greens report “some calls“
29. Saint Boniface
- Postmedia: callers impersonating the Liberal Party
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
30. Simcoe-Grey
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
31. South Shore-St. Margaret’s
- NDP and Chronicle-Herald: election-day robocalls misdirected voters to the wrong polling stations
- Complaint filed by the NDP
32. St. Catharines
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
33. St. Paul’s
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
- Postmedia: Jewish voters were repeatedly called on Saturdays by callers pretending to represent “Dr. Carolyn Bennett”
34. Sudbury
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
- Complaint filed by the NDP
35. Sydney-Victoria
- Liberals and Chronicle-Herald: Callers impersonating the Liberal Party and anonymous callers misdirected voters to the wrong polling stations
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
36. Thunder Bay-Superior North
- Complaint regarding “harassing phone calls” submitted by the NDP
37. Wellington-Halton Hills
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
38. Willowdale
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
39. Windsor-Tecumseh
- Complaint filed by the NDP
40. Winnipeg South (Conservative by 5733 in 2008, 8544 in 2011)
- Complaint filed by the NDP
41. Winnipeg-South Centre
- Complaint regarding misleading phone calls submitted by the Liberal Party
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Robocall scandal could lead to by-elections
by Andy Radia | February 25 2012 | Yahoo
Here is the worse-case scenario for the Harper government with regards to the robocall scandal.
As the Canadian Press reported, Elections Canada and police are looking into reports that automated calls in as many as 18 ridings falsely advised voters that the locations of their polling stations had changed.
If some or all of those election results are overturned, the Conservative’s narrow 12 seat majority could soon be diminished or even lost. It’s a scenario that is not beyond the realm of possibilities.
Former Chief Electoral Officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley told radio host Evan Solomon, on Saturday, that any Canadian can ask a judge to overturn election results if there’s been any “irregularities, fraud, corrupt or illegal practices.”
“If a judge is satisfied [the dirty tricks] could have affected the results then the judge can overturn the election and the government must call a by-election,” said Kingsley, who held Elections Canada’s top post for 17 year before resigning in 2007.
“The judge would have to be satisfied that the number of electors who were affected or potentially affected is greater than the difference in the votes between the candidate who came in first and the candidate who came second.”
Kingsley added that the individual or individuals responsible for the alleged “voter suppression tactics” could also face fines and jail time.
“If an individual is found guilty of any of those practices the law says that they could go to jail. It’s either $5,000 fine or/and up to five years in prison,” he said.
On Saturday, interim Liberal Party leader Bob Rae released a list of 27 electoral districts where his party allegedly received reports of false or misleading phone calls during the 2011 General Election.
Below are the ridings that could be in play:
1. Sydney-Victoria (N.S.): Winner: Liberals; Margin of victory: 765 votes
2. Egmont (P.E.I.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 4,470 votes
3. Eglinton-Lawrence (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 4,062 votes
4. Etobicoke Centre (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 26 votes
5. Guelph (Ont.): Winner: Liberals; Margin of victory: 6,236 votes
6. Cambridge (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 14,156 votes
7. Hamilton East-Stoney Creek (Ont.): Winner: NDP; Margin of victory: 4,364 votes
8. Haldimand-Norfolk (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 13,106 votes
9. Kitchener-Conestoga (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 17,237 votes
10. Kitchener-Waterloo (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 2,144 votes
11. London North Centre (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 1,665 votes
12. London West (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 11,023 votes
13. Mississauga East-Cooksville (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 676 votes
14. Niagara Falls (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 16,067 votes
15. Oakville (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 12,178 votes
16. Ottawa Orleans (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 3,935 votes
17. Ottawa West-Nepean (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 7,436 votes
18. Parkdale-High Park (Ont.): Winner: NDP; Margin of victory: 7,289 votes
19. Perth-Wellington (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 15,420 votes
20. Simcoe-Grey (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 20,599 votes
21. St. Catharines (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 13,598 votes
22. St. Paul’s (Ont.): Winner: Liberals; Margin of victory: 4,545 votes
23. Sudbury (Ont.): Winner: NDP; Margin of victory: 9,803 votes
24. Wellington-Halton Hills (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 26,098 votes
25. Willowdale (Ont.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 932 votes
26. Saint Boniface (Man.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 8,423 votes
27. Winnipeg South Centre (Man.): Winner: Conservatives; Margin of victory: 8,544 votes
Stephen Harper, Rob Nicholson, John Baird, Jim Flaherty, Diane Finley and Vic Toews, along with the rest of the Conservatives are liars, cheats and thieves! Bill-C10 threatens to throw many in jail longer and needlessly! Bill C-11 would strip Canadians of even more rights to what we already own and censor our flow of information! Bill-30 will strip us of our privacy! Now lets not forget the G20 fiasco, Vic Toews immortal speech about Canadians being pedophiles, the planned pension cuts, or their election fraud, and now they can’t even get our budget out on time, as if we don’t know their motivations!
The fascist Conservatives would turn our country into an Orwellian nightmare! How can they even call themselves a legitimate government?! How dare they act like they have our best interests in mind! Who do they think they are telling us what we need and how to live our lives?! They’re the middle management and we’re the ones who hired them! We should be telling them what we want and how we want it!
Canada needs to rise up march on Ottawa and occupy the parliament! We need to take back our country, remove the Conservatives from power! Our government, as a whole needs to be dismantled and rebuilt (that goes for those other parties as well. I’m looking at you Liberals and NDP. Fat load of good they’ve ever done for the country)! All our political parties have ever really done to us has been to divide Canadians. This only serves to make us easy prey for predators in the night! I say no more! Canadians need to stand up as one, divided by zero! Those that would appose the will of the people need to be taught a lesson, followed by some good old fashion tarring and feathering, finish with banishing traitors from Canada! Finally Canadians need some laws that allow us to force referendums on the government and punish corrupt politicians who think they can screw with their people, their employers, you and me! Fellow Canadians I implore you raise up and shout out your discontent for the horrible state of our country and the world for that matter. Shout from every mountain top (email, letters, phone calls, blogs, forums, twitter, youtube, ect…), “WE WILL NOT STAND FOR CORRUPTION WITHIN OUR GOVERNMENT! WE’RE COMING FOR YOU HARPER REGIEM! EXPECT US!” Let the voices of the masses resinate as one, thundering and deafening our oppressors.
‘Things have got to change. But first, you’ve gotta get mad!… You’ve got to say, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” Then we’ll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first get up out of your chairs, open the windows, stick your head out, and yell, and say it: “I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!”
‘People shouldn’t fear the government, the government should fear the people!’
“Canada needs to rise up march on Ottawa and occupy the parliament! We need to take back our country, remove the Conservatives from power! Our government, as a whole needs to be dismantled and rebuilt (that goes for those other parties as well. I’m looking at you Liberals and NDP. Fat load of good they’ve ever done for the country)!”
I am in total agreement with you! and have been saying this for months – before this latest (robocall) scandal! Here’s the problem: How do we get this message, because I do believe it is a dire one, out to the masses? It’s easy for us on computers to pass it along to our own networks, but how, past those??