NDP calls on Chief Electoral Officer to investigate alleged misuse of personal data from 407 ETR

Karla Webber-Gallagher, Provincial Secretary for the Ontario New Democrats, submitted this letter today to Ontario's Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa.

Original letter PDF

Greg Essensa

Chief Electoral Officer

Elections Ontario

51 Rolark Drive

Toronto ON M1R 3B1

May 17, 2018

Dear CEO Essensa:

I write deeply concerned about allegations raised in the last 24 hours of the alleged illegal misuse of personal data by at least 29 candidates running for election for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. The allegations include statements that campaigns may have paid for data and further, that identity theft may have taken place.

This data, alleged to have been taken from 407 ETR, may have been used by candidates to further their electoral success. This is a violation of the laws of Ontario that govern how personal, private information is collected and used.

We are profoundly troubled by these allegations. Ontarians expect more of political candidates and political parties.

I am requesting that Elections Ontario immediately investigate these allegations. As there are fewer than 21 days left in the Ontario election and as advanced voting begins next week, time is of the essence.

I ask of Elections Ontario the following questions, on behalf of our party and concerned Ontarians:

Does the PC Party of Ontario, its campaigns or its candidates, have in their possession or access information from the 407 ETR?

When did the PC Party of Ontario come into possession of or access information from the 407 ETR?

Did any of the PC Party of Ontario’s candidates purposely encourage or support the identity theft of Ontarians for political gain?

Did they pay for said data?

Who has been able to access the data?

How was this data used?

Has this data been used in any way in the PC Party’s central election campaign or that of its leader, Doug Ford?

Has Elections Ontario been notified by the PC Party of Ontario of this alleged misuse of data?

Has Elections Ontario been in contact with police regarding the data breach?

If personal data is in the hands of the PC Party of Ontario, how can Ontarians be sure that it will be destroyed and not kept?

I implore Elections Ontario to urgently investigate these serious allegations and inform Ontarians of their findings at the earliest possible moment.

Sincerely,

[original signed]

Karla Webber-Gallagher

Provincial Secretary

Ontario New Democrats