Canada PoliticsIs the mysterious Pierre Poutine the man behind the robocall scandal?
Glen McGregor and Stephen Maher - the two intrepid PostMedia News reporters who unveiled the robocall scandal - have uncovered the name of the person responsible for alleged voter suppression tactics.
The man behind the scandal, that misdirected voters to non-existent voting booths, is none other than: Pierre Poutine of Separatist Street, in Joliette, Quebec.
Unfortunately, as you might have guessed, the identity and address are a fake.
According to court records obtained by McGregor and Maher, the fraudulent robocalls in Guelph, Ontario came from a Virgin Mobile disposable cellphone registered to 'Poutine,' in an apparent ruse to evade detection in the event the number was ever investigated.
The court records show that Elections Canada filed an Information to Obtain a Production Order at an Edmonton courthouse in November to access phone records belonging to RackNine, the Conservative voice-broadcasting firm that was used by whoever made the fraudulent robocalls.
The "Pierre Poutine" phone was activated April 30, two days before the election, and called only two numbers other than its own voice mail. Both corresponded to RackNine.
The documents also show that several numbers associated with Guelph Conservative candidate Marty Burke's campaign, called RackNine during the campaign.
The initial Postmedia News-Ottawa Citizen investigation last week identified 18 ridings, including Guelph, where electors reported receiving misleading phone calls in an apparent effort to discourage Liberal supporters from voting.
Opposition parties have since alleged that between 27 and 34 ridings were targeted by fraudulent callers with the number of ridings growing as more MPs come forward with reports of questionable calls.
While both the NDP and Liberals have been quick to blame the Tories, Stephen Harper has said he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing in the robocalls scandal, and has challenged the NDP and Liberals to prove his Conservatives were guilty.
"If the NDP has any information that inappropriate calls were placed," he said in question period, Monday, according to the National Post, "[then] I challenge that party to produce that information and give it to Elections Canada."
