Stephen Harper has hired a temporary foreign worker known for lobbying against the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes to lead the Conservatives’ sagging campaign, in violation of Canada’s election laws which prohibit foreigners from influencing voters.

Conservative’s hiring of Australian Lynton Crosby in response to polls showing the party being relegated to the third place violates S. 331 of the Canada Elections Act, which states:

No person who does not reside in Canada shall, during an election period, in any way induce electors to vote or refrain from voting or vote or refrain from voting for a particular candidate unless the person is

(a) a Canadian citizen; or

(b) a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Philip Morris International (PMI), owner of the Marlboro brand, hired Crosby’s firm Crosby|Textor in 2012 to successfully derail British government’s attempts to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes.

Studies have shown that plain packaging saves lives by making smoking less appealing, especially for children.

Crosby, who helped former Australian Prime Minister John Howard secure four consecutive election victories and British Prime Minister David Cameron obtain a majority defying pollsters mostly by using “wedge strategies,” once went on an anti-Muslim diatribe during former London mayor Boris Johnson’s election campaign telling Johnson to focus on traditional Tory voters instead of “f******* Muslims.”

Crosby made headlines again after leaked documents showed that he advised private healthcare providers on how to exploit perceived “failings” in Britain’s National Health Service.

“I do not discuss internal campaign matters,” Harper in response to reporters’ questions about Crosby.