Re: It's time for Canadians to get angry, Feb. 29

First of all, let’s call it what it really is: electoral fraud.

We are now learning that during the last election there has been electoral fraud on a massive scale carried out by supporters of Stephen Harper’s Conservatives. At least 40 ridings across Canada have been the targets of false and misleading robo-calls aimed at preventing Canadians from voting. Elections Canada has launched an investigation; and the RCMP stated they will participate if requested.

The fraudulent calls originated at Racknine, an Edmonton-based call centre that was used for campaign activities by at least 12 Conservative candidates, including Stephen Harper, during the last election.

Recently, Defense Minister Peter MacKay stated that since one individual, who had worked as a volunteer in one riding, has resigned, there is now longer any need for further investigation. With all due respect to Mr. MacKay, it is beyond belief that one volunteer acting alone, could have pulled this off. There are simply too many unanswered questions.

How could a volunteer have gotten access to the phone numbers of registered voters and those of known Conservative supporters in 40 ridings across Canada in order to extract the phone numbers of potential opposition supporters?

The robocall contracts are expensive; would a volunteer really have paid tens of thousands of dollars to Racknine out of his own pocket? And why would Racknine, a call centre aligned with the Conservative Party, have accepted contracts from someone with such an obviously phony name as Pierre Poutine living on Separation St. without checking the validity of the individual and the content of the robocalls?

This was a criminal conspiracy and is no different than if supporters of one political party had planted armed thugs at the polling stations and refused to let supporters of other political parties enter to vote.

This is an example of why many Canadians don’t vote. They feel that their vote doesn’t count when the election process has been hijacked by unethical and dishonest party hacks.

If the investigation finds that electoral fraud has occurred, then Elections Canada should declare the results in all the affected ridings to be invalid, and call for by-elections. The RCMP should arrest all the people involved, regardless of their political positions, and lay criminal charges where necessary.

We really need a full and impartial public inquiry into this activity. It is the only way that the Harper Conservatives can rid themselves of this pervasive stench of corruption.

Santo Giorno, London, Ont.

The accusation of misleading calls directed by the Conservative Party, posing as Elections Canada representatives, is an extremely serious matter warranting an RCMP investigation. Understandably such an investigation will take months, if not a couple of years.

To try and ensure that the next general election, no matter when it is called, will be free and fair, it would be prudent for those MPs who care deeply about our democracy to petition the United Nations to provide international election monitors at the time of our next election.

Complacency that our system is not vulnerable to illegal activities is foolish. Our democracy needs to be protected now.

David Warner, former Speaker of the Ontario Legislature (1990-1995), Toronto

So the Conservatives wanted an investigation into someone putting information, already in the public domain, about someone’s divorce on a website but they are saying no to an inquiry into the chicanery during the last election — actions that threaten the very basis of our democracy. When voters are directed to the wrong polling station that is a direct attempt to prevent them from voting.

Not only is an inquiry required but all those found responsible should be charged under the Elections Act with either the offence of illegally attempting to influence the vote of an elector or the results of an election, or illegally hampering or delaying the electoral process.

If convicted, the maximum sentence allowed should be given for this attack on our rights and democracy. The claim that this is the responsibility of a rogue underling doesn’t wash. Not with the number of ridings and calling companies involved.

Gary Curl, Scarborough

Vikileaks was a “dirty trick” — but it was more like pinching a naughty child to show that pinching hurts. Despite all the outrage, I think that the intent was different from the intent behind the typical intrusions into the private lives of American politicians: it was to discredit the policy, rather than the politician.

Too many people are complacent about the erosion of our rights. By saying,”Vic wants to know about you. Let’s get to know Vic,” the Vikileaker got people’s attention and vividly provided a powerful argument against the online surveillance legislation.

The other campaign, in which people inundated Toews with the most banal details of their lives, was funny and, to some degree, effective. But Toews’ suggestion that advocates of privacy were “with the pornographers” invited a formidable rebuttal.

The shock tactic of the Vikileaker drove home the point, as Thomas Walkom explains, that all citizens, including politicians, want privacy. Given the intent, I also agree with Walkom that this tactic was not comparable to the robocalls, with their alleged illegal interference in the democratic process.

Linda Genova, Toronto

This is frightening enough but what scares me much more is the fact the Canadian people do not seem to be doing much to protest this or show they care.

Gary Brigden, Toronto

I am mad as hell and will remember come election time.

Bonnie Dawe, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Canada, the new U.S.S.R. of Stalin? Our government wants the power to invade our privacy on the Internet and cellphones. Robocall out lies in Quebec regarding the Liberal sitting member resigning. Now robo calling all over Canada interferring with our right to vote. One question no one has asked is who paid the call centres to do this work? Show us the invoice that was sent or can anyone just phone in and they will do thousands of dollars of work at no cost?

Rodger Wilson, Burlington

This is bigger than partisan politics. Any person who respects the democratic process (let alone the Prime Minister of a democratic nation) would want an inquiry into these allegations. The fact that Mr. Harper is sidestepping this issue shows his contempt for democracy.

Rana Chau, Hamilton

I agree it is time for Canadians to get angry. I also think it is time for the governor general to prorogue parliament and request the UN to monitor a new election.

Mary Benusis, Scarborough

As more revelations emerge, the public may be forgiven for increasingly wondering whether or not the 2011 federal election was a sham. The repercussions are enormous.

If the allegations are proven, it would represent a fundamental violation of human rights in Canada, as well as serve as a national disgrace for all time.

It would spell the end of Canada’s place in the world as a principled, untarnished democratic place to live. The line, or width thereof, between the transparent practice of democracy and its absence is much thinner than we think.

Julian Hitner, Toronto

The ultimate intention of this anti-Conservative campaign is another attempt by the NDP and Liberals to win favour with Canadians. Election mistakes, including call centres or robocalls, are made all the time.

But those mistakes don’t mean the Conservatives didn’t win the election fair and square. Heck, we all make mistakes, even as voters. I voted for the NDP — My Bad.

William Perry, Victoria, B.C.

Robocalls? Why did the NDP and the Liberals sit on all these allegations for a year? I would bet there is little substsnce to the allegations and they are just jumping on the bandwagon now.

Dave Geddes, Woodstock

Why would the Tories clearly identify themselves, as in the call received by Ken Hancock, if the intention was to misdirect voters ? Surely they’re not that stupid.

Dave Keeley, Mississauga

First came the U.S.-style negative, name calling election campaigns that give no information about a party’s platform. That was followed by ordinary citizens being kettled, arrested and treated like criminals for legally voicing their opinions at the G20 summit. Now we have evidence of vote tampering in ridings where wins were squeakingly close.

Where is the fair, tolerant and judicious Canada that I used to be so proud of? How did we let ourselves turn into a copy of the countries we openly criticize?

I am both sad and angry at what this country is becoming. We need some real benevolent leadership to turn it around. I hope that leadership is out there somewhere and I hope it’s not too late.

June Mewhort, Woodville

Considering their self-righteousness in public matters, you’d think the Conservatives would scream blue murder at the widening robocall election scandal. Weren’t they victims of misinformation and/or prank calls in some instances? Why won’t they get out in front of this mess by declaring a full public enquiry? Why are they slathering themselves with greasy denials of responsibility? They protest their innocence too much.

David Jay, Mississauga

I hope the Tories’ omnibus crime bill provides mandatory minimum sentences for election fraud.

Glen Loucks, Toronto

I came to Canada in the early 196from a country where politics could get very dirty. When I came to Canada in the early 70’s I thought how refreshing that politicians were honest, trustworthy and elections were free from dirty tricks. So how did we start to play such dirty games, including negative ads that run for months before election. Let’s start behaving like intelligent and civilized Canadians.

B. Rosalie Chin, Scarborough

Now that the Conservative Party sewer is backing up, we are reminded of Richard Nixon’s famous “plumbers’ unit,” the gang created by the GOP to carry out their playbook of dirty tricks against their political foes.

Of course those tricks ended with the Watergate scandal and Mr. Nixon’s forced resignation. His defence of “plausible deniability” wasn’t enough to save him.

No doubt our Prime Minister has learned much from his Republican Party uncles and will be able to stem the back flow of sewage before it reaches the upper stories.

Preston Merrill, Port Hope

It’s a good thing the Conservatives are building more prisons, because there may be an influx of political dirty-tricksters in need of accommodation. Perhaps one detention centre will become known as the PMO, Party Members Only.

Lloyd Atkins, Vernon, B.C.

During my 25-plus years as a UN expert in international electoral advisory assistance and procedure, I have been witness to countless activities of civic electoral malfeasance and unless strict political public civic electoral accountability is mandated by a public judicial investigation, the most fragile pillar of civic cohesion — which is “trust” — will be severely compromised, leading to a breakdown in social civil cohesion with the result being a gross lessening of respect for the already compromised civic institutions, which could lead to future civil unrest.

Monte McMurchy, Toronto

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