Conservative campaign staffer in Guelph faces charge over 2011 robocalls affair - The Globe and Mail
Point The PM upon advice from Elections Canada plans to increase the fines / jail time for certain offenses.
Michael Sona charged in robocalls scandal | Canadian Politics | Canada | News | National Post
Conservative campaign worker Sona charged in robocall probe - Canada - CBC News
Elections Canada has filed a charge against a former Conservative official in relation to the 2011 election robocall controversy in the riding of Guelph, Ont.
In a statement, the director of communications in the local Conservative campaign, Michael Sona, suggested that he was not responsible for the controversial robocalls that directed voters to the wrong polling station. The calls falsely said they were from Elections Canada.
“Although the charge is disappointing, it represents an opportunity for Mr. Sona to finally address the allegations in a court as opposed to in the media and resolve it permanently,” Mr. Sona’s lawyer, Norm Boxall, said in a statement.
“I cannot help but comment, that if the government was interested in the public being fully informed and the issue of robocalls being properly addressed, a full public inquiry would be called, rather than a charge laid against a single individual who held a junior position on a single campaign and who clearly lacked the resources and access to the data required to make the robocalls.”
Elections Canada has refused to confirm that a charge have been laid.
In a statement, Fred DeLorey, director of communications for the Conservative Party of Canada, denied any involvement by the party. "We are pleased that Elections Canada’s work has progressed to this point.
"The Conservative Party of Canada ran a clean and ethical campaign and does not tolerate such activity. The Party was not involved with these calls and those that were will not play a role in any future campaign."
Point The PM upon advice from Elections Canada plans to increase the fines / jail time for certain offenses.
Michael Sona charged in robocalls scandal | Canadian Politics | Canada | News | National Post
Conservative campaign worker Sona charged in robocall probe - Canada - CBC News
Elections Canada has filed a charge against a former Conservative official in relation to the 2011 election robocall controversy in the riding of Guelph, Ont.
In a statement, the director of communications in the local Conservative campaign, Michael Sona, suggested that he was not responsible for the controversial robocalls that directed voters to the wrong polling station. The calls falsely said they were from Elections Canada.
“Although the charge is disappointing, it represents an opportunity for Mr. Sona to finally address the allegations in a court as opposed to in the media and resolve it permanently,” Mr. Sona’s lawyer, Norm Boxall, said in a statement.
“I cannot help but comment, that if the government was interested in the public being fully informed and the issue of robocalls being properly addressed, a full public inquiry would be called, rather than a charge laid against a single individual who held a junior position on a single campaign and who clearly lacked the resources and access to the data required to make the robocalls.”
Elections Canada has refused to confirm that a charge have been laid.
In a statement, Fred DeLorey, director of communications for the Conservative Party of Canada, denied any involvement by the party. "We are pleased that Elections Canada’s work has progressed to this point.
"The Conservative Party of Canada ran a clean and ethical campaign and does not tolerate such activity. The Party was not involved with these calls and those that were will not play a role in any future campaign."
