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Robocalls Scandal: Opposition Claims Even More Ridings Got Misleading Calls

First Posted: 02/26/2012 12:48 pm Updated: 04/27/2012 5:12 am

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OTTAWA - The robocall controversy appears to be broadening, with opposition parties claiming the number of ridings affected by voter-suppression calls in the last federal election is greater than first thought.

New Democrat MP Pat Martin says he is aware of at least 34 ridings that received automated phone calls , although his party lists only 29.

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Bob Rae said his party is aware of 27 ridings, but he expects the number to rise by Monday, when the House of Commons resumes.

The opposition are accusing the Harper Conservatives of orchestrating a campaign of dirty tricks in the May 2 election, but the Conservatives have denied the charges.

Elections Canada and police are currently believed to be looking into reports that automated calls in as many as 18 ridings falsely advised voters that the location of their polling stations had changed.

Martin says he is firm on his number and has since heard of two more ridings, but was not yet adding them to his list.

Meanwhile, lawyers for RackNine Inc., an Edmonton-based automated dialling company that worked on the Conservative campaign, has sent a letter to Martin demanding an apology or face a defamation suit for comments he made about the company.

Martin says he has no intention of apologizing.

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Related News On Huffington Post:
 

Robocalls Scandal: Stephen Harper Accuses Opposition Of Smear Campaign, Says Tories Not Behind Fraudulent Calls 5 More Ridings Report Suspicious Election Calls Robocalls: Rick Mercer Rants About Fraudulent Election Calls Scandal Robocalls Scandal: 'Pierre Poutine' Made Calls In Election Fraud Affair Robocalls Scandal: Question Period Becomes Feeding Frenzy As Opposition Rage Grows Over Voter Fraud Allegations Robocalls An Isolated Incident, Says Peter MacKay Robocalls: Political Parties' Call Lists Highlight Lack Of Privacy For Voters Robocalls Scandal: Bob Rae, Nycole Turmel Maintain Pressure On Tories Over Alleged Dirty Tricks Liberals Claim 'Robocalls' Part Of Misinformation Tory Campaign Elections Canada Ruling On Misleading Election Call: 'Inaccuracies' Happen Conservative staffer resigns amid 'robocalls' probe Michael Sona Fired: Conservative Staffer With Ties To Guelph Riding Let Go Robocalls to trick voters draw opposition fire Robocalls Scandal: Harper Denies Involvement In Dirty Tricks Campaign Linked To Racknine Inc. Racknine: Story On Fraudulent Election Calls Traced To Firm With Tory Links Sparks Twitter Firestorm
Read more from Huffington Post bloggers:
Jim Harris

Jim Harris: Harper Conquers Canada, One Robocall at a Time

This robocall scandal is not just about some inconvenient phone calls, it's about subverting our democracy and altering the outcome of the election. And it's about Harper remaking Canada in his own image.

Filed by Lauren Strapagiel  | 
 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
gravescanada
670 Fans
 
11:02 AM on 02/29/2012
This current controversy I fear will go the way of all the other controversies that have plagued The Harper Government, they will stall as long as possible, till the public moves on to some new issue and then they will laugh at the foolish sheep that seem to do what they know in their hearts is the wrong thing.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
greysells2
grey cells matter
919 Fans
07:22 AM on 02/29/2012
One of the big issues at stake here is the reputation of Elections Canada with the Canadian Public. Are they able to work at arms length from their political masters? Do they work for the "Government of the Moment" or the integrity of the electoral process. I think Canada needs public reassurance from Elections Canada that they are independent and that they have the power and resources to do their job. It occurs to me that the participation levels in Canadian elections is in a long term decline but especially with reference to younger voters. What is the reason for this?
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Jim Harris
is a journalist & international bestselling author
1202 Fans
 
04:34 PM on 02/28/2012
This isn't a story about "dirty tricks," it's about election fraud. The issue is much more serious than the commentary to date indicates. Read my Huffington Post blog on this at http://huff.to/yW1YgR and I'd enjoy your feedback.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
gravescanada
670 Fans
 
11:00 AM on 02/29/2012
Loved the blog post. Puts the whole issue in proper perspective. F&F!
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bigotsrunchristianity
98 Fans
04:09 PM on 02/27/2012
It was a disposable cell phone, but I bet whoever called it called someone they knew. Trace all calls from that phone, I'm sure they will lead to some interesting people.
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bigotsrunchristianity
98 Fans
03:45 PM on 02/27/2012
These calls were going on nation wide, this govt needs to be disolved and a new election NEEDS to be called.
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uneeda
Make Peace in Our Time
128 Fans
10:40 AM on 02/27/2012
big brother has once again slipped on the banana peel
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BCSLAVE
Got a key?
358 Fans
10:24 AM on 02/27/2012
Does anyone believe a party creats a hand book to suppress parliamentary function and committees wouldn't resort to suppressing voters in their drive to not only get elected but actually get a majority which it has stated was so important to them in order to push their "secret" agenda.

Not to forget, spy on every Canada to better update their robocall list for next time!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
WeeTadBit
571 Fans
07:56 AM on 02/27/2012
And now we have live operator's in call centres stating they were very concerned with the mandate they were asked to carry out, so much so, one contacted the RCMP because she sensed something underhanded was going on with these election calls.

I think the wool is unraveling on their sheep outfits, and hopefully soon, the wolves among us will finally be revealed.
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PortlandZoo
Wait... what?
2274 Fans
02:07 PM on 02/27/2012
not wolves, more like jackals.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Skookum1
truth can't be bought, but lies sure can be sold..
193 Fans
08:01 PM on 02/27/2012
hyenas - especially their yammering and skulking
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island cynic
77 Fans
 
07:49 AM on 02/27/2012
Here in BC, specifically in the riding of Saanich North & the Islands, we had our taste of robo calls in the 2008 election. It was made to NDP members and instructed them to vote for a candidate that resigned and was no longer in the race, making them think he was back in the race. This would have favoured the CONS if these members marked their ballot with an 'x'.

The CRTC claimed it was not their baby to investigate. Elections Canada chose not to investigate further. Thus the lingering odour has never left here and says to me that this dirty tactic worked. There were no consequences to the actions of robo calls here. No wonder the CONS decided to use it more mainstream across Canada in subsequent elections. If you can get away with corruption, why not?
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island cynic
77 Fans
 
07:53 AM on 02/27/2012
Correction, I meant Saanich Gulf islands.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
thegirlnextdoor
634 Fans
01:33 PM on 02/27/2012
I remember that.
The whole sleezy story just drifted away.
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rr78
61 Fans
01:43 AM on 02/27/2012
It's way too early to break out the champagne, but I comfort myself with the old saying "the bigger they are, the harder they fall".
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AmericCanuck
98 Fans
01:36 AM on 02/27/2012
Yeah, and there was 1 single person behind the whole thing.

bwahahahahaha
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
canobserv
719 Fans
09:19 AM on 02/27/2012
I don't think anyone is buying that anymore........my concern is whether the RCMP and Elections Canada can be trusted ......or have they been co-opted........
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BCSLAVE
Got a key?
358 Fans
10:20 AM on 02/27/2012
So a 23 year old kid with a basic degree in political science is capable of doing this you think, by himself? Hundreds of thousands of current names, phone numbers, language use info, scripts, servers, telephony services, and mass long distance calling (MONEY!!!) were required and I venture he could not put even one of these components together.

This kid was tainted for stealing the ballot box at the university during the same election how could he have done this he was to busy being a goof on campus. I believe his party punishment for getting caught in the ballot box scam is to take the fall for treasonous calls ...

T story being offered by the National Reform Party that this kid did it doesn't fit the patsy's skill set so they are just creating another lie.

Keep lying to yourself AC.
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AmericCanuck
98 Fans
05:18 PM on 02/27/2012
Dude, google this word...
SARCASM
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Charlie Cairns
0 Fans
 
12:21 AM on 02/27/2012
the apparent extent of the electoral fraud points towards the need for the prime minister to call for a new election as merely holding a series of by-elections hardly seems to remedy what clearly would seem to be a coordinated attempt to subvert the democratic process. Sanctions for such behaviour must be swift and severe. It would seem in this and many other instances the Harper conservatives are steering are electoral system towards the rampant corruption we see so often in the U.S.
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yukoner1
Living way up the left coast.
697 Fans
11:35 PM on 02/26/2012
It seems more and more that when there is a choice of doing something right or doing it dirty, the tory default position is dirty.
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njdanie
old retired nerd
124 Fans
 
11:25 PM on 02/26/2012
The was so much dirty tricks and negative campaigning going on leading up to and during the election just like in America that Harper must have thought this as one more dirty trick would go unnoticed.
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e mac
4 Fans
08:12 PM on 02/26/2012
Pat Martin: No intention of apologizing?
I hope he has deep pockets for lawyers and court costs during/after his pending slander case.
Some people take a little longer in the learning process - perhaps this is his wakeup call.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
rickthaluddite
What noisy cats are we
427 Fans
 
04:43 AM on 02/27/2012
The only good can can come of this is the resignation of Fraudster in Chief Stephen J. Harper. Pat Martin isn't slandering anyone-- this government is rotten to the core.
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FlavourPacket
13 Fans
07:21 AM on 02/27/2012
Hahaha yes I think we all know who the real villain here is! Pat Martin! You're adorable.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Skookum1
truth can't be bought, but lies sure can be sold..
193 Fans
01:43 PM on 02/27/2012
I'm looking forward to seeing him in cabinet........
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