Is this the political story of the year for 2012? I don't know yet.

[snowywolfowl]

But if this is as widespread as is being alleged I'm not sure what might happen here. I don't think there is any precedence for ordering new elections over illegal electoral misdirection.

For those unfamiliar with the story there are allegations that the Conservative Party had an American based company make robo-calls to Liberal and New Democratic Party supporters. That in itself is not illegal, but telling voters to go to the incorrect voting station so that they can't effectively exercise their right to vote is.

So, is this an important story? Considering several parliamentary ridings were won and lost by narrow margins it is possible such actions had a direct effect in determining which party gets to be the Government. That's a BIG thing, considering it determines the direction Canada takes in fiscal, domestic, and international policy. More important though is the principle of the thing. I was taught as a elementary school student that my vote counts on election day. If its ok for parties to interfere with and disrupt a citizen's ability to vote simply because they support a different party, then maybe we need to rethink what we tell school children in Grade Six social studies.

The Conservatives apparently do not want an inquiry into this but since this is about the integrity of Parliament, and not the Government, it's not their choice to make. I'll be watching what the Speaker decides.

If interested here's a link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/02/26/pol-robocalls-cp.html

Comments

[kathyrene.livejournal.com]

This is just big news in the nation's capital and of course across Canada. I'm anxious to see which why this goes. It's hard to believe this kind of thing happens. It is just so wrong. So unethical. So un-Canadian!

[snowywolfowl.livejournal.com]

I know! If we can't trust the ballot box, where do we go as a country? I don't like the possible answers to that question.