In what became known as the robocall scandal, Michael Sona was sentenced to nine months in jail for trying to stop some people from voting in Canada’s 2011 federal election. Sona was a staffer with the Conservative Party which won that election.
He was found guilty in August for organizing automated phone calls that inciting some 6,700 people in the province of Ontario to go to the wrong place to cast their ballots.
‘Callous and blatant disregard…for the right to vote’
Judge Gary Hearn said Sona’s crime showed a “callous and blatant disregard for the right of people to vote” and added Sona was a major participant in this “ill-conceived and disturbing plan.”
Did Sona act alone?
The judge said he did not think Sona acted alone, but it does not appear that more information will be forthcoming. A cabinet minister has called the case closed and the Conservative government has always insisted Sona was an outlier and his was an isolated case.
However the national newspaper, The Globe and Mail published an article today saying there have been “quite a number of isolated cases” involving election irregularities. Reporter Campbell Clark wrote that the Conservatives have “so far wrestled these cases down to minimally damaging one-offs. But the one-offs are starting to pile up.”
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.