Many questions remain unanswered and Canadians, with good reason, are appalled by the developments of The Robocall Scandal. From the close ridings that swayed undemocratically to the damning affidavit of a former employee saying they were told to mislead voters to another voting site, this scandal exploded like fireworks and Harper's Integrity took a real hit.
We all remember the 2006 campaign where then-Conservative candidate Stephen Harper promised government would conduct business differently. He said,
"There's going to be a new code on Parliament Hill: bend the rules, you will be punished; break the law, you will be charged; abuse the public trust, you will go to prison. If you behave unethically or dishonestly then do not expect a reward from this Prime Minister of Canada."
However, this would prove to not be the case when former Conservatives were found responsible in a series of election irregularities in 2011.
Then, one thing led to another and the scandal started to unfold, becoming more damning with every piece of the puzzle that was released. It comes to question Harper's record of integrity, one that was his central promise in 2006.
This page will be updated with new articles and events as they happen so bookmark it or better yet, follow The Canadian Political Scene on social media to get the updates first.
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NDP researcher James Valcke has released images via his Twitter account which add more links between the Conservatives and Racknine President Matt Meier.
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Then, one thing led to another and the scandal started to unfold, becoming more damning with every piece of the puzzle that was released. It comes to question Harper's record of integrity, one that was his central promise in 2006.
This page will be updated with new articles and events as they happen so bookmark it or better yet, follow The Canadian Political Scene on social media to get the updates first.
Here is a timeline of how the events unfolded:
This timeline will be updated as events unfold and will link to articles with more details.
May 2, 2011
Voters in Guelph riding receive phone calls from an automated voice message saying:
“This is an automated message from Elections Canada. Due to a projected increase in voter turnout, your poll location has been changed. Your new voting location is at the Old Quebec Street Mall, at 55 Wyndham Street North. Once again, your new poll location is at the Old Quebec Street Mall, at 55 Wyndham Street North. If you have any questions, please call our hotline at 1-800-443-4456. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. (French version recorded in another woman’s voice follows.)”For more details
February 23, 2012
Allegations arise that non-Conservative voters got harassing and misleading robocalls in 2011 election. The phone calls are traced Racknine who managed nine ridings - including that of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.For more details
February 24, 2012
Conservatives fire Guelph campaign staffer Michael Sona.February 25, 2012
Up to 29 ridings are effected by robocall scandal.For more details
NDP researcher James Valcke has released images via his Twitter account which add more links between the Conservatives and Racknine President Matt Meier.
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Then-Liberal Interim Leader Bob Rae called for a full investigation and asked the speaker Andrew Scheer for an emergency debate.
February 26, 2012
Liberals and New Democrats gather a list of 34 ridings they believe to be effected by robocall scandal.
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Fourteen ridings had close results between Conservative and opposition candidates.
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The RCMP raid Racknine and look for evidence pertaining to robocall scandal.
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Speaker Andrew Scheer rejects then-Liberal Interim Leader Bob Rae's request for an emergancy debate.
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Racknine files $5 million lawsuit on Pat Martin and NDP for defamation.
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Canadians protest in wake of robocall scandal. NDP MP Libby Davies calls for public inquiry.
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Former Liberal MP Joe Volpe asks for full investigation in Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver's riding Eglinton-Lawrence after CBC finds 2,700 fake names on voter list in the riding.
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Then-Liberal Interim Leader Bob Rae leads calls for public inquiry.
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Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro says misleading robocalls may have been mistakes.
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A former employee at Responsive Marketing Group, hired by Conservatives, says employees were instructed to misdirect Northern Ontario voters.
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Election results of seven ridings being disputed in courts amid robocall scandal.
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Up to 200 ridings are effected by robocall scandal.
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Fourteen ridings had close results between Conservative and opposition candidates.
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February 28, 2012
Up to 40 ridings are effected by robocall scandal.The RCMP raid Racknine and look for evidence pertaining to robocall scandal.
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Speaker Andrew Scheer rejects then-Liberal Interim Leader Bob Rae's request for an emergancy debate.
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March 3, 2012
Conservatives blame Liberals for robocall scandal.For more details
March 4, 2012
Four ridings effected by robocall scandal would return Liberal based on historic trends.For more details
Racknine files $5 million lawsuit on Pat Martin and NDP for defamation.
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Canadians protest in wake of robocall scandal. NDP MP Libby Davies calls for public inquiry.
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March 10, 2012
Conservatives blame Elections Canada for robocall scandal.For more details
Former Liberal MP Joe Volpe asks for full investigation in Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver's riding Eglinton-Lawrence after CBC finds 2,700 fake names on voter list in the riding.
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March 12, 2012
Ipsos Reid poll finds Canadians want public inquiry into robocall scandal.For more details
Then-Liberal Interim Leader Bob Rae leads calls for public inquiry.
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March 13, 2012
Confusing robocalls sent from "Jeff" implicate Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro in the ongoing scandal.
March 16, 2012
Elections Canada confirms 700 irregularities in 2011 election. The scandal then links to CMIS, Conservative database.For more details
Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro says misleading robocalls may have been mistakes.
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April 13, 2012
Former Responsive Marketing Group employee Annette Desgagne files affidavit stating, “I talked to many people all over Canada over the three days in advance of the election, reading from the change of address script.”
April 19, 2012
Two ridings with irregularities found to have a helping hand from Republican firm Front Porch Strategies. The Conservatives hired the company for 14 ridings' campaigns.For more details
A former employee at Responsive Marketing Group, hired by Conservatives, says employees were instructed to misdirect Northern Ontario voters.
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Election results of seven ridings being disputed in courts amid robocall scandal.
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May 6, 2012
Elections Canada finds same address for misleading robocalls and communications with Guelph Conservative campaign.For more details
May 19, 2012
Election results in Etobicoke Center nulled after court challenge brought forward by former Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj. Conservative MP Ted Opitz given 8 days to appeal and take case to Supreme Court of Canada.For more details
Up to 200 ridings are effected by robocall scandal.
May 28, 2012
Conservatives appeal ruling in Etobicoke Center and send the case to the Supreme Court of Canada.For more details
June 23, 2012
NDP close committee hearings on Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro's involvement with robocall scandal in spite against Liberals on the committee.For more details
June 30, 2012
Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro's campaign sent robocalls impersonating his Liberal opponent Jeff Leal.For more details
October 25, 2012
Supreme Court rules in favour of Conservative MP Ted Opitz in Etobicoke Center.February 7, 2013
Conservative robocalls in Saskatchewan concerning boundary changes are linked to robocalls sent out in May 2011.For more details
March 31, 2013
Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand warns the robocall scandal can repeat itself, offers recommendations to federal government.April 3, 2013
Elections Canada charges former Conservative staffer Michael Sona in robocall investigation.
May 23, 2013
Federal Court rules fraud occurred in 2011 Election campaign, but didn't annul results in six ridings.For more details
May 25, 2013
Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand calls for crackdown on robocalls.For more details
June 4, 2013
Two Conservative MPs under fire for campaign expenses. Conservative MP Shelly Glover under investigation for robocalls in 2011 election.For more details
June 7, 2013
NDP to defend the Conservative MPs that are under fire on Monday.For more details
June 12, 2013
Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro speaks out about ongoing investigation into his election expenses.For more details
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