Voter supression case to be heard in December
CBC News
Posted: Aug 15, 2012 2:16 PM ET
Last Updated: Aug 15, 2012 10:11 PM ET
The Council of Canadians, chaired by Maude Barlow, is seeking to overturn election results in seven federal ridings, based on allegations of misleading calls during the 2011 election. (Canadian Press)The legal challenge seeking to overturn last year's federal election result in seven ridings won by Conservatives will be heard in court in mid-December, the Council of Canadians said Wednesday.
The group is backing nine voters who say there is evidence of voter suppression and that the election result should be overturned in ridings where the result was close. They say a pattern of misleading calls, both live and automated robocalls, shows a co-ordinated effort to keep Canadians away from the polls on May 2, 2011.
The Council of Canadians said that a hearing of the evidence has been scheduled for Dec. 10 to 14.
However, the case will be in court before then, in September, because of ongoing arguments related to it.
The voters bringing the court challenge has asked for Elections Canada to provide details on complaints received from voters in the robocalls affair. Elections Canada says it received some 800 complaints from 200 federal ridings about misleading phone calls in the 2011 federal campaign. The agency has not provided the detailed information.
A lawyer for the Conservative party, Arthur Hamilton, says the demand for specific details would "interfere with the case timetable" and it is opposed by his clients.
The Federal Court has been asked to decide whether Elections Canada has to turn over the requested information. The decision is expected to be delivered on Sept. 18.
At that time the parties will also argue a motion from the lawyer acting for the seven Conservative MPs in the case that asks the challengers to put up $250,000 to cover the MPs' costs in case the challengers lose.
With files from CBC NewsShare Tools
- Power & Politics Ballot Box question by Evan Solomon May. 21, 2013 4:55 PM Are you satisfied with the Prime Minister's handling of the Senate scandal?
Top News Headlines
- Kids from levelled Oklahoma schools recount deadly tornado

- Children from two Oklahoma schools levelled Monday by a powerful tornado are recounting what it was like to survive the "loud" and "scary" twister, while rescuers near the end of their search for any other remaining survivors or bodies.

more »
- Deadly Oklahoma tornado confirmed as most powerful type

- Emergency workers neared the end of their search Tuesday afternoon for survivors in Moore, Okla., following a deadly tornado that weather officials said was now classified among the most powerful type of twister. more »
- Senate debates expense audits amid greater scrutiny
- The expenses scandal dominated the first Senate session since the audits on senators Mike Duffy, Mac Harb and Patrick Brazeau were released and it was revealed Duffy's questionable expenses were repaid by a personal cheque from the prime minister's chief of staff. more »
- Only 1 set of human remains found at Millard farm, police say
- Hamilton police have confirmed that they are dealing with only a single set of human remains at the Waterloo region farm of Dellen Millard. more »
- Rob Ford faces more calls to address crack allegations
- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford went back to work after a holiday weekend, but he kept his mouth shut about an alleged video that two published reports say shows him smoking what appears to be a crack pipe. more »
Must Watch
Latest Politics News Headlines
- Senate debates expense audits amid greater scrutiny
- The expenses scandal dominated the first Senate session since the audits on senators Mike Duffy, Mac Harb and Patrick Brazeau were released and it was revealed Duffy's questionable expenses were repaid by a personal cheque from the prime minister's chief of staff. more »
- 'Very upset' Harper wants fast Senate spending reform
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the Conservative caucus this morning that he's "very upset" about the recent conduct of some senators and his own office, and he wants Senate spending rules tightened quickly. more »
- PM's South America trip turns focus from turmoil to trade
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper left today for South America for four days of bilateral talks and trade meetings, after addressing his caucus over the growing Senate expense controversy. more »
- Cops sought info from Mulcair about ex-Laval mayor meeting
- Federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair says he was contacted by the provincial police anti-corruption squad in Quebec to discuss a suspected 17-year-old bribe offered to him. more »
- Maine city wants U.S. review before oilsands oil flows
- The city of Portland, Maine, passed a resolution Monday night calling on the U.S. government to conduct an environmental review of Portland-to-Montreal pipeline before it is allowed to reverse its flow and potentially bring oilsands oil to a terminal on the Atlantic coast. more »
The National
The House
- Questions mount for Harper and chief of staff Nigel Wright in Senate scandal May. 18, 2013 1:15 PM This week on The House, with Senators Wallin and Duffy now out of the Conservative caucus, we get reaction from NDP Ethics critic Charlie Angus. We also hear directly from Senator Patrick Brazeau who says the Conservatives have thrown him under the bus. Plus we speak with B.C. Premier Christy Clark after her stunning victory.
- Deadly Oklahoma tornado confirmed as most powerful type
- Microsoft unveils Xbox One
- 'Very upset' Harper wants fast Senate spending reform
- Only 1 set of human remains found at Millard farm, police say
- Kids from levelled Oklahoma schools recount deadly tornado
- Rob Ford faces more calls to address crack allegations
- Mountie sues 13 ex-colleagues for sex assault, harassment
- Jodi Arias asks jury to spare her life
- Microsoft's Xbox revamp: Is the sun setting on game consoles?


