Ron Liepert, a former Alberta PC MLA seeking a federal Conservative nomination in Calgary, says competitor MP Rob Anders is making impersonating phone calls pretending to be part of his camp.
Leipert said dozens of party members in the Calgary Signal Hill riding have complained about phone calls received last Friday from people claiming to be with either Leipert's campaign or the Conservative party, reports CBC News.
However, when those people called back the number from which the calls originated, they were answered by members of Anders' camp, Liepert told CBC.
“This is very serious stuff. You can’t impersonate somebody,” Liepert said Monday in an interview with the Ottawa Citizen, adding his campaign has filed complaints with Elections Canada and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), asking both to investigate.
While Anders has not acknowledged the allegations with reporters, he did fire back at Liepert in a statement on his website.
“We all know that Ron Liepert is part of an ultra-partisan, liberal group who has lost several nomination campaigns in this riding and is now desperately trying to subvert our democratic process. The final word belongs to the people," the statement reads
Liepert and Anders are both vying for the Conservative nomination in early April.
Anders was first elected in Calgary West in 1997. He won his riding in 2011 with 62 per cent of the vote.
On Monday, Anders posted an endorsement from Prime Minister Stephen Harper on his website.
"Rob Anders has been a strong voice in our caucus and Conservative government as well as a valued member of our team. The Road to 2015 is one that needs strong, stable leadership, and I've been able to count on Rob to get real results for his riding and our country,” Harper is quoted as saying.
Harper is actually backing every incumbent Tory MP facing a challenge for their nomination in 2015.
Liepert told Huffington Post Canada that Harper’s 11th-hour endorsement would not switch any votes but was a sign of Anders’ desperation.
“He is on life-support and realizes it, and is now taking these measures to shore up his support. Harper is very popular in this riding – this was his riding when he was first elected as an MP,” Liepert said.
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