In the last week, we've heard a lot about robo-calls and an Elections Canada and RCMP investigation into allegations of misleading voters to incorrect polling locations. Others say they have received harassing live phone calls from people believed to have misrepresented themselves. It appears as if Elections Canada had knowledge of some of these irregularities and failed to act in a timely matter. Many questions remain unanswered.
Commentary coast to coast has ranged from slanderous accusations against an Alberta private business owner, to claims the Conservative Party masterminded the campaign, and even calls of election fraud. There has been no evidence brought forward to suggest Conservative party officials had any knowledge of such rogue activities, but the robo-call dial tone has taken over the show and promises to continue clouding the work of government for some time.
The robo-call activities are deplorable and should be investigated. But one can't help but note that if Elections Canada did not have such a bad history of moving polls in the short term before the election, whether something like this would be possible. Elections Canada should not be allowed to move polls in the four weeks before an election, that way, everyone would already know it when they get a crank call saying otherwise.
The so-called robo-scandal is a significant threat to Canada’s democratic process and has revealed weaknesses in the system. It shows a system that may be in need of some repairs. Changes may be necessary to ensure such abuse of the system does not happen again. The real culprits need to be found out, not just Pierre Poutine.
Elections Canada also has some explaining to do. One would have assumed when abuses of the system have been reported, they would be taken more seriously at the time.
