Grasping At Smears

There we go again, allegations of illegal and damning actions on the part of Conservatives and conservative sympathizers, that they have manipulated and attempted to interfere with the democratic process through vote-rigging and conspiracies to bypass Elections Canada's formal election rules.  Liberals are concerned and 'worried' that such actions on the part of conservatives were responsible for having tainted the electoral process.

And some among them clamour to have election results in certain ridings overturned, held in suspension, and new election proceedings undertaken in ridings that they identify as having been subverted by the Conservative machine determined to gift Stephen Harper with a majority government.  These are, doubtless, the same Liberals that aligned themselves with the NDP to hint darkly of Prime Minister Harper's "secret agenda".

Now, a Jewish community group, Gesher Canada, is being accused of having issued an open letter to its members that is assumed by the Liberals to have been responsible for Conservative candidate Joe Oliver having won the riding of Eglinton-Lawrence in Toronto.  The letter, sent during the election campaign, urged the supporters of the community group to get out and vote for the Conservative candidate.

And, in the process to urge their relatives who might be visiting from out of the country for Passover, to also cast their ballot.  Canadians urging Americans to vote in a Canadian election?  Say it isn't so!  It isn't so.  The letter read: "It is extremely important that you get all your eligible family members to vote ... make sure that your friends have done the same."

"Canadian citizens who live in other countries can vote in this election.  Please ensure that family members visiting for Yom Tov (Passover) go to vote."

A Liberal election lawyer believes the mailout to have been a 'worrying' event.  "They're encouraging people who may not be eligible to vote to come vote anyway.  The question is, did they?"  Now what would compel this man to the conviction that the community group sought to encourage their members to engage in an illegality?

"The letter was directed at Canadian citizens who were (a) personally encouraged to vote; and (b) asked to encourage their children, who may have been studying out of the country and returning for the Passover holiday to vote as well", was the response of the Jewish community group.

"This was completely legal, legitimate and in keeping with an objective of Elections Canada of maximizing the voting of Canadian citizens."

And then, another implication raised that the Conservatives will stop at nothing to gain votes.  Toronto property developer Anthony Heller is identified as the sole funder of Gesher Canada's election advertising.  He paid the precise cost of $4,752.92 to pay for the get-out-the-vote letter.  As far as he is concerned the letter represented a "community organization campaign", aimed at "kids studying out of town".

The Liberals have asked Elections Canada to investigate suspicious activities and purported voting irregularities during the 41st General Election that brought the Conservative government of Stephen Harper to majority status.  An issue that rankles the Liberals who obviously feel they have somehow been cheated out of achieving as usual their guaranteed place as chief party and entitled government.