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“There are people who have asked me to show up at the odd event, and I have shown up at the odd event,” he said. “But I do not have any role, and I’m not seeking any role … I’m serving the campaign from the outside rather than the inside.”

Smith, who admits he’s still not happy at being kicked out of the Liberal caucus, said the party has made it clear it doesn’t want senators to do fundraising. As for the rest, “you have to ask them,” he said, referring to the party leadership.

Fellow Independent Liberal Sen. Jim Munson says he spoke to several local Liberal candidates before the election, and expects to be knocking on doors like any other volunteer. In past elections, he has sometimes been on the party leader’s plane.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

This time, “It is different in the sense that we’re not members of the national caucus,” Munson said. “But that shouldn’t stop you from helping out a local MP. If asked, and I have been asked, I’ll help campaign for the local candidates.”

Independent Liberal Sen. Larry Campbell feels differently. While some of his colleagues in the upper chamber may be involved in the election, “from my point of view, it’s not condoned in the party.”

Campbell, who lives in Green party leader Elizabeth May’s B.C. riding, and has endorsed May there for the second election in a row, said whenever he gets a call from someone who wants his help, he tells them to ask Liberal headquarters if it’s all right. Nobody has ever called back, he said.

“I don’t want to show up and do a speech or whatever and then get the candidate in trouble,” he said. “So I respect the fact they want us to be independent of the process.”

lberthiaume@ottawacitizen.com

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