A Liberal MP apologized Monday for robocalls his campaign team made in the last federal election that may have run afoul of election laws.

Frank Valeriote, Guelph MP whose riding is at the centre of the robocall controversy, admitted his campaign launched a series of calls that accused his Conservative opponent of being anti-abortion.

But missing from the call was any mention of the fact that it was produced by the Liberal campaign, as required by Elections Canada rules.

That prompted the Conservatives to go on the offensive Monday, accusing the Liberals of flouting the law.

“Liberals used a bogus number, a fictitious character. They broke the CRTC regulations. They broke Elections Canada laws. They have acted in a fashion that is disgraceful (and) deceptive,” Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro said in the Commons.

The Conservatives themselves have been under fire in recent weeks over mystery calls made to voters in Guelph and other ridings directing them to vote at bogus polling stations. An Elections Canada investigation is underway to determine the source of those calls.

In his apology, Valeriote said it was an oversight that his robocalls didn’t identify the source.

Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae said it can’t compare to election phone calls that impersonated Elections Canada and directed voters to polling stations that didn’t exist.

“There’s a difference between . . . tough politics and dishonest politics. You know, the fact is Mr. Valeriote was under attack on abortion in his riding. He responded forcefully,” Rae said.

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