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    N.S. MP claims robocalls made to voters during election

    A Nova Scotia MP says his riding was targeted by a dirty tricks campaign in the last federal election.

    So-called voter suppression tactics are being investigated after voters in Guelph, Ont., were deliberately misdirected to non-existent polling stations through an automatic or "robodialing" operation.

    The calls were tracked to a firm that works for the federal Conservatives.

    Nine Conservative campaigns used the services of Racknine, the call centre whose services were used for the fraudulent calls. It's not unusual to use call centres for legitimate campaigning.

    The company and Prime Minister Stephen Harper deny involvement or knowledge of the dirty tricks.

    "I had some sense something was wrong," said Mark Eyking, a Sydney-Victoria Liberal MP. "It's being harassed. People were asked to go to location that didn't exist."

    Eyking said a dirty tricks phone campaign was directed at Liberal supporters and the late night calls were from a person. He said he didn't file a complaint after his election victory.

    Conservative Cecil Clarke, who ran against Eyking in the 2011 federal election, denied any knowledge.

    Conservative campaign worker Todd Graham questions the Liberal story.

    "Given what's happening in another part of the country, people are looking to tie it in to activities in the local area. I can tell you that the local riding association and the campaign to elect Cecil Clarke didn't involve themselves in anything like that," Graham said.

    The federal NDP meanwhile claim South Shore-St. Margaret's was one eight ridings targeted for robocalls, saying they have received emails from voters. In that race, Conservative Gerald Keddy beat New Democrat Gordon Earle.

    Then-NDP riding association president said he doesn't recall it happening.

    "I don't remember it coming up as an issue," said Wolfgang Ziemer. "Something may have off to the side mentioned it on the side. But I don't remember it — we debrief after the election and it did not come up in my memory."

    Elections Canada will not comment to CBC News. The federals Conservatives say that they are unaware of any allegations outside of Guelph.

    What do you feel about this article?

     

    10 comments

    • rick  •  2 months ago
      Someone show some paper work, or shut up ,to say this is true with no paper work will make Harper look some good .
    • Sara  •  Calgary, Alberta  •  2 months ago
      Our election cards sent to us told us we needed to go 15 MILES away to the voting station... when in fact it was at a school 2 blocks away.

      Everyone at the place was given the wrong address cards.

      You can't do this with normalized databases unless it is on purpose.
      • rick 2 months ago
        Got the cards Give them to the RCMP , OR SHUT UP.
    • Alexander  •  2 months ago
      But its not dirty tricks it's Criminal fraud.
      Toss the pigs into the Kingston Pen.

      Harper is such a PIG as so eloquently put by the Chinese naming a pork food dish "Harpers Knuckles". WE the people need to recall this, "Baby Bush Ideology", government on the legal basis of election fraud. We then need to toss these high helicopter flying, spying, CONS in the Kingston Pen where they rightly belong. We further need to to change the law in order to be rid of the 6 year golden handshake just like Harper wants to do to our lead handshake.. These Conservatives are nothing but high flying spying criminal pigs.

      I need to further add: That why Canada did so well in the World wide recension is due to our Banking Laws remaining mainly unchanged and the Central Bank actually belonging to the people. Not because of Conservative stewardship, if the Conservatives get a chance they will probably change the banking Laws and sell our Central bank to the NUCLEAR armed Israelis.. Then we too will become even further enslaved to the 1%..

      Golly but these CONS are nothing but a bunch of dumb bombastic porkers thinking Harper, who himself thinks, was being complimented by the crafty Chinese! What a stupid gang, if you're not with us you must be shot, right A_HOES. Bunch of garden tools!
      • Cuckhold 2 months ago
        Mabe the Chinees have been coaching King Harper!! This kind of thing happens in third world countries--But CANADA?
        Conservitive supporters seem like those who kept supporting the Cathlic church(say they did no wrong) when more& more reports of child abuse were comming out--They just REFUSED to belive the church could do ANY WRONG!!(every victum was lieing)
        Same thing in this case--For supporters--the victums must be lieing!!
    • Don  •  2 months ago
      I believe that I received a card from Elections Canada where to vote. I generally hung up on all the phone crap was being disseminated by all parties during the last election. Now, a year later, the opposition is jumping on a "non issue" to an electorate that is smarter than they give us credit for. The only complaint the two opposition parties have is that they didn't think of it first. If it was a 'real' issue; the NDP and the Liberals would have jumped on it even before the election was over.
    • maggie  •  Hamilton, Ontario  •  2 months ago
      here is something I recieved that may help answer some questionsThank you for your email expressing concerns about the recent Elections Canada report. This report, describing the use of illegal “robo-calls” during last federal election, has traced these calls back to a company that worked for the Conservative Party.



      This extremely worrisome development is an attack upon our cherished democratic institutions and demands an immediate response. There must be a complete investigation to determine those who are responsible. Individuals or organizations who have conducted such egregious actions need to face jail time. Additionally, financial rebates for those specific elections must be cancelled and returned to Elections Canada. (Political parties who obtain a certain percentage of the vote in a riding can receive up to 60% of their expenses refunded via Elections Canada, and 50% nationally. Combined, this amounts to tens of millions of dollars for the Conservative Party.) Only through such strong measures will we create a meaningful deterrent to these actions.

      The Conservative government has made continuous efforts to target MPs and opposition parties with unscrupulous tactics as a strategy to gain more voter support. Like you, I believe this is a disturbing trend that is driving Canadians away from the political process, and have condemned this in the House of Commons on November 22nd
    • dudemas maximus  •  Brampton, Ontario  •  2 months ago
      next time you get caught speeding try telling the officer that you were "not aware" of the posted limit.good luck.politicians need to obey the laws too..someone gave the ok just like someone gave the ok to the 67 cons who willfully stole from the taxpayers during the in and out scandal.harper thinks he is above the law and that canadians are stupid.
      • Cuckhold 2 months ago
        It's sad but true!
      • rick 2 months ago
        Is the paper work there to prove anything.
    • Cuckhold  •  London, Ontario  •  2 months ago
      Now that CBC has brought out the truth--Watch Harper& his Conservitives TRY to DESTROY them for being honest!
      • Cuckhold 2 months ago
        WATCH FOR IT!!!
      • Bob 2 months ago
        Since when has the CBC told anything bordering on the truth. The CBC is the most useless polluter on the airwaves.....disgusting bunch of left over hippies and out right teller of lies.
      • rick 2 months ago
        SOMEONE PLEASE SHOW SOME PAPER WORK , OR SHUT UP.
    • mahjongg  •  Clarence-Rockland, Ontario  •  2 months ago
      Bunch of sore looser. You will have to wait four or more years.
      • Cuckhold 2 months ago
        Are you saying this type of Rigging the election is OK?
        If the NDP or Liberals were involved in this& WON--I bet you'd be screaming for blood!!
      • maggie 2 months ago
        Mahjongg...we are not sore "loosers" we are Canadians who are concerned about "losing" our freedoms and rights. You should join us, if you are not part if the solution you are part of the problem.
      • rick 2 months ago
        I Hope someone puts up or shuts up ,seems to be he said she said.
    • Ken  •  2 months ago
      I have a strange idea. Let's wait for the proof.
    • Dostoyevsky  •  2 months ago
      funny thing...the check seems to signed by Bob Rae...
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