Editor:
Re: Election fraud on Tory radar, May 15 letters.
MP Russ Hiebert’s letter to the editor contained contradictions to the minutes of the Government of Canada House and Procedure Committee meeting on March 29.
Marc Maynard, chief electoral officer for Elections Canada, spoke about the investigation into the irregularities of the 2012 federal election: "In the last general election, a total of 473 polls, or less than one per cent, were moved, affecting some 300,000 electors.”
Hiebert (South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale) writes: “…while the use of phone services to reach voters has certainly been demonized recently by the improper actions of a few, such services are essential to free and fair elections. For instance, in the 2011 election, Elections Canada changed the locations of over 1,000 polling stations during the campaign.”
1,000-473=527. Can Hiebert explain the discrepancy?
Hiebert also writes: “The ability of candidates and parties to use phone services to inform voters of the new polling locations, and encourage them out to vote, strengthened our democracy.”
Maynard states: “We have the most authoritative and up-to-date information on the electors and their voting locations, and we are accountable for it. This is why we specifically ask political parties and candidates not to communicate with electors in this regard, but refer them to Elections Canada in order to avoid errors and confusion among electors.”
Why is Hiebert stating that political parties phoning constituents about polling-station changes strengthens our democracy, when Elections Canada clearly indicated to all parties and candidates not to communicate with electors about polling-stations changes?
The failure to follow the rules has resulted in seven election results being contested before the Supreme Court of Canada… so far.
Lisa Nolan, White Rock
• • •
Because the Liberal candidate in Guelph was using “robocall” technology, like most candidates, MP Russ Hiebert compares this to the robocalls scandal.
I thought he was a lawyer, but he seems to have missed the distinction between the proper use of automated phone calls during an election – which is a procedural or ethical concern – and misdirecting Canadian voters, which is a much more serious criminal offence.
An April EKOS Research report found that in seven ridings won by Conservatives, 30,000-50,000 voters “received deliberately misleading calls aimed at suppressing non-Conservative votes.” Perhaps that’s why the Harper Cons scheduled the most damning robocalls report during the Budget 2012 lockdown.
Their response to that report was, in my opinion, to desperately try to minimize its importance.
So I was surprised when Hiebert mentioned his party is “actively assisting” Elections Canada to solve this crime. The ruling party just slashed the Elections Canada budget, and we all know how the Conservatives like to co-operate with EC people, like suing them until they have to admit guilt. I’m sure they’ll get along really well again this time.
Larry Colero, White Rock
• • •
An open letter to MP Russ Hiebert.
Unfortunately my question as submitted was not answered, so I will restate. (Voter fraud met by silence, May 10 letters.)
Fact: Elections Canada has confirmed that 200 ridings were targeted by robocalls that falsely directed voters to the wrong polling station in the last federal election.
Fact: Elections Canada has traced a computer from the Conservative campaign in Guelph, Ont., to the account that paid for the robocalls.
Agreed, the “whodunit” could well prove to be isolated to a few individuals. And I’d also like to state for the record that in no way do I believe that this riding was targeted.
However, my point is, it is possible voter wishes aren’t accurately represented in the government, and the only way to right any wrongdoing is to hold byelections in all targeted ridings – yes, even the ones won by Liberals and NDP.
Mr. Hiebert, in the immortal words of Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, you can either stand with us – in this case, the voters – or you can stand with the cheaters.
Richelle Benoit, Surrey