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CRTC lays fines on those who abused robocalls

The CRTC has laid $369,000 in fines on political parties, MPs, and telemarketing company Racknine which it found broke robocall rules.

Alberta's Wildrose Party was charged $90,000 and has paid it back. They broke rules in 2011 and before and during the 2012 provincial election.

Ontario's Progressive Conservative Party was charged $85,000 for failing to identify their calls made between September 1-7, 2011 ahead of the provincial election. They've since paid it back.

The federal Conservative Party was charged $78,000 and has 30 days to pay it back. They broke rules in a robocall campaign in Saskatchewan January 31 and February 1 related to riding boundary changes and failed to identify themselves.

Racknine is allegedly behind robocalls made in the 2011 federal election campaign and was fined $60,000 for 15 robocalls for "a number of clients" made between March 2011 and February 2013. They've since paid it back.

The federal NDP was charged for the robocall campaign they launched against Liberal MP Lise St-Denis, when she defected from the NDP, January 11-20, 2012. They've accepted responsibility and paid back their dues.

Conservative MP Blake Richards was fined $14,400 for failing to identify himself in robocall campaigns in August and October 2012 in his riding north of Calgary and has 30 days to pay his dues.

Liberal MP Marc Garneau was fined $2,500 for failing to identify himself in robocalls made during the Liberal leadership race. He has since paid back his dues.

The CRTC says these fines come as part of a wide investigation into the misuse of robocalls which is still under investigation.

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