.

[WWWTT]

Question to the NDP. Will there be a public inquiry before or after the EC/RCMP concludes an investigation? And who gets to call the public inquiry?

Harper has to call it,I doubt that he has the guts.

WWWTT

[capricorn]

What I heard speculated on Sun News is that these 31,000 complaints that have suddenly appeared out of the blue in the past week will muddy the water so much that EC won't be able to get to the bottom of the problem to the oppositions satisfaction.

Therefore an inquiry has to be called.

I don't believe that analysis. Elections Canada has clarified to a CBC reporter that 31,000 is the number of "contacts", not "complaints" they received. Those contacts are letters, emails and phone calls. They specified contacts could simply be requests for information on robocalls, voters simply venting and duplicate contacts from individuals following up on their previous communications. They can classify these contacts and extract what are legitimate complaints with grounds to investigate.

[capricorn]

Harper has to call it,I doubt that he has the guts.

WWWTT

I knew that. The way the NDP statement is worded, it is they who would call the inquiry.

[UofGPolitico]

I think if Elections Canada confirms the investigation has linked this alleged voter suppression campaign to ridings OUTSIDE of Guelph conclusively, then I think Harper will have no choice but to call a public inquiry. At this point, there is no suggestion from EC or the RCMP that the investigation is focused on anywhere but Guelph. They are focused in on the Thunder Bay call centre, yes, but presumably though they were led there from the Guelph investigation.

Update: RackNine makes good on their earlier threats and launches a defamation lawsuit against Pat Martin and the NDP.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/alberta-firm-at-centre-of-robo-call-probe-sues-bombastic-ndp-mp/article2357127/

Edited March 3, 2012 by UofGPolitico

[capricorn]

I think if Elections Canada confirms the investigation has linked this alleged voter suppression campaign to ridings OUTSIDE of Guelph conclusively, then I think Harper will have no choice but to call a public inquiry.

We're a long way from the need for a public inquiry. IMO Harper will let the EC/RCMP investigation follow its course and will act accordingly depending on the findings. Tactically speaking, Harper would not kneecap EC by calling a public inquiry immediately since the opposition would accuse him of wanting revenge on the agency for the in and out sanctions against the party.

Update: RackNine makes good on their earlier threats and launches a defamation lawsuit against Pat Martin and the NDP.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/alberta-firm-at-centre-of-robo-call-probe-sues-bombastic-ndp-mp/article2357127/

To the tune of $5M.

[UofGPolitico]

We're a long way from the need for a public inquiry. IMO Harper will let the EC/RCMP investigation follow its course and will act accordingly depending on the findings. Tactically speaking, Harper would not kneecap EC by calling a public inquiry immediately since the opposition would accuse him of wanting revenge on the agency for the in and out sanctions against the party.

Exactly, I don't expect the investigation to be finished for a long while, possibly not even until after the next election. The opposition wants the inquiry, but I fully agree they'd attack him for calling one too even though the opposition has not been afraid to be critical of EC's power to investigate.

[capricorn]

Exactly, I don't expect the investigation to be finished for a long while, possibly not even until after the next election.

Who knows UofG.

This is interesting. Have a look at this. An online petition encouraging people to contact authorities, including the Commissioner of Elections Canada, to complain about the 2011 election. Note that the number of messages sent is now at 36,000 and climbing. Earlier today the number of messages sent through this petition would have been almost the same as the number of contacts EC reported earlier today.

http://www.leadnow.ca/robocall-fraud

Coincidence?

[Smallc]

I see where you're going with this Capricorn, and I agree. I think this has gone from something real to something far beyond that.

[capricorn]

smallc, if you check the "about" page in that site, you'll see the names of a couple of high profile NDP strategists.

[capricorn]

Oh great. Avaaz has its own online petition to direct emails to Elections Canada and the RCMP demanding a public inquiry. They have 600,000 zealots in Canada.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/election_fraud/?agCGTcb&s=1

No doubt activists sent in emails through both leadnow and Avaaz petitions. Those emails will have to be matched by individual name and counted as one. What a painstaking task that will be. Uh, uh!

[UofGPolitico]

Oh great. Avaaz has its own online petition to direct emails to Elections Canada and the RCMP demanding a public inquiry. They have 600,000 zealots in Canada.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/election_fraud/?agCGTcb&s=1

No doubt activists sent in emails through both leadnow and Avaaz petitions. Those emails will have to be matched by individual name and counted as one. What a painstaking task that will be. Uh, uh!

The hysteria of the left continues

I wonder if Tory researchers already have this ready for QP on Monday

Edited March 3, 2012 by UofGPolitico

[olpfan1]

This is exactly why we don't believe a damn thing Harper and the Conservatives claim..its all LIES

Hey conbots, lets see you spin this

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/03/02/pol-weston-election-calls.html

The prime minister and his parliamentary secretary, Peterborough MP Dean Del Mastro, claimed in the Commons that the Liberals were the only party that used American calling firms.

“We’ve done some checking,” the PM said, and “we’ve only found that it was the Liberal Party that did source its phone calls from the United States.”

But documents show 14 Conservative campaigns enlisted the telephone services of an Ohio company called Front Porch Strategies.

During the election, the company made thousands of calls into each of those Canadian ridings from its headquarters in Columbus.

In fact, Del Mastro’s own campaign used the American firm twice during his successful bid for re-election last year.

A source connected to Front Porch tells CBC News that all the calls from Ohio to Del Mastro’s riding during the election were programmed to show the telephone number of his local campaign headquarters, masking the fact the phoning was being done from Ohio.

Front Porch’s calls to 13 other ridings on behalf of Conservative candidates operated in the same way, the source said.

Edited March 3, 2012 by olpfan1

[capricorn]

I wonder if Tory researchers already have this ready for QP on Monday

I noticed tonight the Globe and Mail amended one of its articles to mention the leadnow petition.

It’s not clear if all these complaints are detailed, personal beefs or whether a significant number are merely Internet-generated form letters by sites such as Leadnow.ca.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/elections-canada-faces-31000-complaints-in-robo-call-probe/article2356455/?utm_medium=Feeds%3A%20RSS%2FAtom&utm_source=Home&utm_content=2356455

That won't get past them and that site will get plenty of scrutiny this weekend.

[olpfan1]

This is exactly why we don't believe a damn thing Harper and the Conservatives claim..its all LIES

Hey conbots, lets see you spin this

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/03/02/pol-weston-election-calls.html

The prime minister and his parliamentary secretary, Peterborough MP Dean Del Mastro, claimed in the Commons that the Liberals were the only party that used American calling firms.

“We’ve done some checking,” the PM said, and “we’ve only found that it was the Liberal Party that did source its phone calls from the United States.”

But documents show 14 Conservative campaigns enlisted the telephone services of an Ohio company called Front Porch Strategies.

During the election, the company made thousands of calls into each of those Canadian ridings from its headquarters in Columbus.

In fact, Del Mastro’s own campaign used the American firm twice during his successful bid for re-election last year.

A source connected to Front Porch tells CBC News that all the calls from Ohio to Del Mastro’s riding during the election were programmed to show the telephone number of his local campaign headquarters, masking the fact the phoning was being done from Ohio.

Front Porch’s calls to 13 other ridings on behalf of Conservative candidates operated in the same way, the source said.

So lets get this straight..The Conservatives claimed the Liberals were the only party outsourcing its calls from America (which was a lie, as they didn't outsource any calls from America), and now its clear that the Conservatives used American call centres and asked them to mask their calls so it looks like it came from Canada

HAHAHAHA Oh my God .. they are lucky its friday because this hypocrisy will likely get buried and forgotten by monday

you just cant make up this kind of incompetence

Now everything the conservatives say I am going to think the exact opposite

Edited March 3, 2012 by olpfan1

[UofGPolitico]

So lets get this straight..The Conservatives claimed the Liberals were the only party outsourcing its calls from America (which was a lie, as they didn't outsource any calls from America), and now its clear that the Conservatives used American call centres and asked them to mask their calls so it looks like it came from Canada

HAHAHAHA Oh my God .. they are lucky its friday because this hypocrisy will likely get buried and forgotten by monday

you just cant make up this kind of incompetence

Now everything the conservatives say I am going to think the exact opposite

Quoting your own post is BEYOND tacky

[olpfan1]

Quoting your own post is BEYOND tacky

Well am I wrong?

The CPC in an attempt to do damage control have completely lost all control

Edited March 3, 2012 by olpfan1

[UofGPolitico]

Well am I wrong?

The CPC in an attempt to do damage control have completely lost all control

Their messaging I will admit has been very confusing. For a party that prides itself on "messaging" its been very sloppy lately, and not just with robocalls.

[olpfan1]

Their messaging I will admit has been very confusing. For a party that prides itself on "messaging" its been very sloppy lately, and not just with robocalls.

I agree.. with the Bill C-30, the Old Age Pension,..but I think we're starting to see them breakdown

how many more lies can they tell and get proven wrong before they totally break?

we've never seen the cpc like this before

Edited March 3, 2012 by olpfan1

[UofGPolitico]

I agree.. with the Bill C-30, the Old Age Pension,..but I think we're starting to see them breakdown

how many more lies can they tell and get proven wrong before they totally break?

we've never seen the cpc like this before

They are a majority government now. They got too comfortable and forgot how to be disciplined and organized. Happens to every majority PM. Harper will have this down like Chretien in no time

A proof is a proof, and its a good proof when it is proven.... Harper needs to adopt this line.

Edited March 3, 2012 by UofGPolitico

[olpfan1]

Harper will have this down like Chretien in no time

Chretien was a weasel and crook, Harper is a weasel and crook .. why do we keep electing weasels and crooks?

[UofGPolitico]

Chretien was a weasel and crook, Harper is a weasel and crook .. why do we keep electing weasels and crooks?

Lack of options?

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[olpfan1]

Lack of options?

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

True, to be honest I was actually very comfortable with a Conservative minority and a Liberal opposition with the NDP and Bloc.. the idiots just had to ruin that and give us what we have today

[cybercoma]

This is the text of the Leadnow.ca letter campaign:

Dear Prime Minister Harper, Ms Turmel, Mr Rae, Ms. May and Mr. Plamondon,

I am gravely concerned by the Elections Canada report that has just traced illegal phone calls made during the 2011 federal election to a company that worked for the Conservative Party across the country.

The "robocalls" were designed to stop non-Conservative voters from casting ballots in key ridings by falsely telling voters that the location of their polling stations had changed, causing them to go to the wrong location on election day.

This news casts doubt on the legitimacy of our Government. We need answers now, and real consequences for illegal behaviour that may have determined the outcome of our election.

I demand a full and independent public inquiry, backed by Elections Canada and the RCMP, to expose the facts about the robocall scandal and ensure that the penalty for this election fraud matches the consequences of the crime - including possible by-elections in the affected ridings.

We cannot allow individuals to be scapegoated for actions that benefit institutions. We need to lay the foundation for new laws to restore the integrity of Canadian elections.

[UofGPolitico]

This is the text of the Leadnow.ca letter campaign:

Dear Prime Minister Harper, Ms Turmel, Mr Rae, Ms. May and Mr. Plamondon,

I am gravely concerned by the Elections Canada report that has just traced illegal phone calls made during the 2011 federal election to a company that worked for the Conservative Party across the country.

The "robocalls" were designed to stop non-Conservative voters from casting ballots in key ridings by falsely telling voters that the location of their polling stations had changed, causing them to go to the wrong location on election day.

This news casts doubt on the legitimacy of our Government. We need answers now, and real consequences for illegal behaviour that may have determined the outcome of our election.

I demand a full and independent public inquiry, backed by Elections Canada and the RCMP, to expose the facts about the robocall scandal and ensure that the penalty for this election fraud matches the consequences of the crime - including possible by-elections in the affected ridings.

We cannot allow individuals to be scapegoated for actions that benefit institutions. We need to lay the foundation for new laws to restore the integrity of Canadian elections.

Directly sent to the Commissioner of Elections Canada? 37,000 hmmmm

[cybercoma]

Directly sent to the Commissioner of Elections Canada? 37,000 hmmmm

Yeah. Leadnow is not emailing the commissioner. The website encourages people with information to contact the commssion, while the letter-writing campaign goes out to the party leaders (Harper, Rae, Turmel, May, and Plamondon).