Delayed reaction

THE odd thing about the controversy over “robocalls” (automated messages) that has gripped Canadian politicians for the past fortnight is that not much about it is new. Reports both before and after the general election of May 2011, in which Stephen Harper's Conservatives won a majority, claimed that supporters of opposition parties in at least four ridings (constituencies) were directed to the wrong polling station by a recorded phone message, purporting to come from the electoral authority. There were also reports of opposition supporters receiving harassing or abusive phone calls from people who claimed to be from their own party.

Yet it was not until February 22nd that the opposition New Democrats and Liberals demanded an investigation. That was after two journalists tied the robocalls to the Conservative campaign team in one riding and said there was evidence of similar tactics in 17 more. “We are entering into a kind of Nixonian moment in our political culture, where all kinds of dirty tricks seem to be possible,” declared Bob Rae, the Liberals' interim leader.