Robocalls and Elections Canada...
Am I on a different planet? Today, I decided to go down to Parliament Hill to hear for myself the Elections Canada testimony on the so-called Robocall scandal. Marc Mayrand, head of Elections Canada, actually didn't say much, but the spin on the web has been amazing.
What I thought was interesting was the low level of complaints received by Elections Canada before and just after the election. A total of 70 complaints were received. That's it, just 70 complaints.
Of course, when the story hit the papers and the opposition parties started asking for people to come forward, over 40,000 communications were received by Elections Canada. Of those, 800 are now being investigated - the rest are just bogus. These 800 complaints are scattered in 200 ridings. While the average is just 4 per riding (not a lot), I bet that most riding are just 1 or 2 and the bulk in Guelph.
He was also quite clear that he was annoyed at the press coverage and gave a few examples where Elections Canada received a lot of complaints about a particular issue, but where full investigation revealed no substance to the complaints.
He will report in a year.
If you look on the web for the news coverage, you'll find an almost ridiculous emphasis on the 200 ridings - like that indicates that this is a widespread scandal. It isn't. There were 6,400+ calls from Guelph that went to voters with incorrect polling locations - some of those calls went to people outside the riding telling them where to vote in Guelph. This surely indicates incorrect data - and Mr. Mayrand said that typically the Elections Canada database has 14% incorrect data.
The opposition MPs present tried to find something to ask. But, Mayrand refused to answer questions on his investigation and that left people like NDP MP David Christopherson frustrated. He actually asked Mayrand about the procedures to null and void the last election.
One last thing - Mayrand was clear. He stands by his certification of the last election.
posted by GayandRight @ 6:58 PM
10 Comments:
Thankyou for a clear and concise assessment.
Reading Kady's liveblogging (complete with her opinion inserted) I came away with the same impression as you did. Then I started seeing media stories about the proceedings and wondered what planet these people were on . Seems that they have an agenda and it isn't going to be curtailed by *the truth*
hi5boymThis is an astonishing recap vs the dramatic drivel that is available via the bubble.
So much of what is being scribed seems to be torqued to suit a personal agenda rather than what is actually said and that is from day one with some of these people. Can it be a simple lack of interpretation or is it for another reason?
My goodness, Christensen was outraged that this occurred today, budget day as though it was some clandestine attempt to hide the evaluation of Maynard. Simply ridiculous to even think that the 'bubble' folks wouldn't cover their latest potential dream 'gate' over the positive budget of a steady govt.
It's such a gong show and I am so grateful to see a simple precise recap of this meeting. Thank you for some common sense.
What really needs to be thoroughly investigated is the Toronto-East riding where it has been reported that busloads of Tamils had been going from poll station to poll station, being coached on arrival as to who to vote for in Tamil and then going in to vote. Many using the same address, as many as 26 at one address. Oh, and the NDP Tamil born candidate won.
He ended his testamony with this statement…
“A report of calls to be placed at “MIDNIGHT” certainly DID NOT come from Elections Canada”.
He also said..”It is troubling that there are reports so long after the election that are not supported by specific FACTS’.
“A complaint does not mean an investigation”
Ontario Girl
Well, on to the next "scandal". Looks like they've already started trying to cook something up about some evil conservative MP coaching kids to get guns. Should be fun to watch this one. I've got the beer and popcorn ready.
Great post Fred, agreed this is a ridiculous spin by media and partisans. If there is any indication at the end of this that there was wrongdoing by party officials I'll be out for blood too but I'm going to wait and see where the chips fall before casting guilt on anyone.
You will never know what planet you are on unless you change your meds. Elections Canada has made it clear that there are many complaints in each file: in some files, thousands of complaints. Sorry if that seems a little harsh, but are you a little embarrassed now?
You are wrong...there were not thousands Of complaints. Only 800 complaints....
It is a pity that you didn't have the tape to prove exactly what you heard.
You should go to Kady O'malley blog at CBC and read her hr by hr statement by statement made at the hearing. Maybe you can counter her on few things that were not said but was said anyway by her.
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