CAROL HUGHES CONDEMNS THE CONSERVATIVE IN AND OUT CAMPAIGN SCANDAL
Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes
OTTAWA, ON– Today, during question period in the House of Commons, New Democrat MP Carol Hughes (Algoma- Manitoulin – Kapuskasing) took aim at the Conservative In and Out campaign scandal.
Hughes asked the Conservatives why they try to justify their actions by accusing other parties of acting just like them when no other parties have been charged with the same offence.
“Only the Conservatives have been charged, only the Conservatives have transferred expenses for national advertising to the ridings,” said Hughes. “Only the Conservatives have created a scheme to spend more than the legal limit on electoral expenses, and only Conservative strategists are facing jail time.”
The Conservatives have been charged by Elections Canada for funnelling money through local campaigns in order to spend more than the maximum allowable on national advertising. A recent Court of Appeal ruling confirmed the efficacy of the case after four high-profile Conservatives were charged in February.
The scandal made it seem that small campaigns were spending more money than they actually were. This made them eligible for larger rebates than they deserved. It is estimated the Conservatives received more than a million dollars in Elections Canada rebates for the scheme in addition to the charges for over-spending on national advertising.
