What started as an isolated set of robocalls misdirecting voters in Guelph expanded to effect over 50 ridings as irregularities happened during the 2011 election campaign that gave the Conservatives their coveted majority. Did the Conservatives legitimately win the 2011 election campaign? Let’s take a look at the scandal from how it unfolded.

Many questions remain unanswered and Canadians, with good reason, are appalled by the developments of The Robocall Scandal. From the close ridings that swayed undemocratically to the damning affidavit of a former employee saying they were told to mislead voters to another voting site, this scandal exploded like fireworks and Harper’s Integrity took a real hit.

We all remember the 2006 campaign where then-Conservative candidate Stephen Harper promised government would conduct business differently. He said,

“There’s going to be a new code on Parliament Hill: bend the rules, you will be punished; break the law, you will be charged; abuse the public trust, you will go to prison. If you behave unethically or dishonestly then do not expect a reward from this Prime Minister of Canada.”

However, this would prove to not be the case when former Conservatives were found responsible in a series of election irregularities in 2011.

Then, one thing led to another and the scandal started to unfold, becoming more damning with every piece of the puzzle that was released. It comes to question Harper’s record of integrity, one that was his central promise in 2006.

This page will be updated with new articles and events as they happen so bookmark it or better yet, follow The Canadian Political Scene on social media to get the updates first.

Here is a timeline of how the events unfolded:

This timeline will be updated as events unfold and will link to articles with more details.

May 2, 2011

Voters in Guelph riding receive phone calls from an automated voice message saying:

“This is an automated message from Elections Canada. Due to a projected increase in voter turnout, your poll location has been changed. Your new voting location is at the Old Quebec Street Mall, at 55 Wyndham Street North. Once again, your new poll location is at the Old Quebec Street Mall, at 55 Wyndham Street North. If you have any questions, please call our hotline at 1-800-443-4456. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. (French version recorded in another woman’s voice follows.)”

For more details 

February 23, 2012

Allegations arise that non-Conservative voters got harassing and misleading robocalls in 2011 election. The phone calls are traced Racknine who managed nine ridings – including that of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
For more details

February 24, 2012

Conservatives fire Guelph campaign staffer Michael Sona.

February 25, 2012

Up to 29 ridings are effected by robocall scandal.
For more details

NDP researcher James Valcke has released images via his Twitter account which add more links between the Conservatives and Racknine President Matt Meier.
For more details

Then-Liberal Interim Leader Bob Rae called for a full investigation and asked the speaker Andrew Scheer for an emergency debate.
For more details

February 26, 2012

Liberals and New Democrats gather a list of 34 ridings they believe to be effected by robocall scandal.

Fourteen ridings had close results between Conservative and opposition candidates.
For more details

February 28, 2012

Up to 40 ridings are effected by robocall scandal.

The RCMP raid Racknine and look for evidence pertaining to robocall scandal.
For more details

Speaker Andrew Scheer rejects then-Liberal Interim Leader Bob Rae’s request for an emergancy debate.
For more details

March 3, 2012

Conservatives blame Liberals for robocall scandal.
For more details

March 4, 2012

Four ridings effected by robocall scandal would return Liberal based on historic trends.
For more details

Racknine files $5 million lawsuit on Pat Martin and NDP for defamation.
For more details

Canadians protest in wake of robocall scandal. NDP MP Libby Davies calls for public inquiry.
For more details

March 10, 2012

Conservatives blame Elections Canada for robocall scandal.
For more details

Former Liberal MP Joe Volpe asks for full investigation in Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver’s riding Eglinton-Lawrence after CBC finds 2,700 fake names on voter list in the riding.
For more details

March 12, 2012

Ipsos Reid poll finds Canadians want public inquiry into robocall scandal.
For more details

Then-Liberal Interim Leader Bob Rae leads calls for public inquiry.
For more details

March 13, 2012

Confusing robocalls sent from “Jeff” implicate Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro in the ongoing scandal.
For more details

March 16, 2012

Elections Canada confirms 700 irregularities in 2011 election. The scandal then links to CMIS, Conservative database.
For more details

Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro says misleading robocalls may have been mistakes.
For more details

April 13, 2012

Former Responsive Marketing Group employee Annette Desgagne files affidavit stating, “I talked to many people all over Canada over the three days in advance of the election, reading from the change of address script.”
For more details

April 19, 2012

Two ridings with irregularities found to have a helping hand from Republican firm Front Porch Strategies. The Conservatives hired the company for 14 ridings’ campaigns.
For more details

A former employee at Responsive Marketing Group, hired by Conservatives, says employees were instructed to misdirect Northern Ontario voters.
For more details

Election results of seven ridings being disputed in courts amid robocall scandal.
For more details

May 6, 2012

Elections Canada finds same address for misleading robocalls and communications with Guelph Conservative campaign.
For more details

May 19, 2012

Election results in Etobicoke Center nulled after court challenge brought forward by former Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj. Conservative MP Ted Opitz given 8 days to appeal and take case to Supreme Court of Canada.
For more details

Up to 200 ridings are effected by robocall scandal.

May 28, 2012

Conservatives appeal ruling in Etobicoke Center and send the case to the Supreme Court of Canada.
For more details

June 23, 2012

NDP close committee hearings on Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro’s involvement with robocall scandal in spite against Liberals on the committee.
For more details

June 30, 2012

Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro’s campaign sent robocalls impersonating his Liberal opponent Jeff Leal.
For more details

October 25, 2012

Supreme Court rules in favour of Conservative MP Ted Opitz in Etobicoke Center.

February 7, 2013

Conservative robocalls in Saskatchewan concerning boundary changes are linked to robocalls sent out in May 2011.
For more details

March 31, 2013

Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand warns the robocall scandal can repeat itself, offers recommendations to federal government.
For more details

April 3, 2013

Elections Canada charges former Conservative staffer Michael Sona in robocall investigation.
For more details

May 23, 2013

Federal Court rules fraud occurred in 2011 Election campaign, but didn’t annul results in six ridings.
For more details

May 25, 2013

Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand calls for crackdown on robocalls.
For more details

June 4, 2013

Two Conservative MPs under fire for campaign expenses. Conservative MP Shelly Glover under investigation for robocalls in 2011 election.
For more details

June 7, 2013

NDP to defend the Conservative MPs that are under fire on Monday.
For more details

June 12, 2013

Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro speaks out about ongoing investigation into his election expenses.
For more details

Join the Discussion

What do you think of Stephen Harper’s record of integrity? Share this article and keep your friends and family up to date with The Robocall Scandal and join the discussion and let us know what you think. If you’re on Twitter or Google+, feel free to use the #robocallscandal hashtag and respond directly to @CPoliticalScene or +The Canadian Political Scene.