Tories press for details on robocalls penalty

Release all related papers, minister urges Wildrose

Calgary — The provincial Tories turned up the heat Friday on the Wildrose Party over robocalls as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission stayed silent over a $90,000 penalty levied against Wildrose for its use of automated diallers in 2011 and 2012.

Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffiths called on Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith to publicly release all documents relating to the CRTC judgment, as well as the party’s correspondence and contracts with its service provider.

“We know the CRTC issued the largest fine in their history against the Wildrose party for violating election laws and that’s pretty serious, $90,000. But that’s all we know,” Griffiths told reporters at the legislature. “If this manipulated the election, what impact did it have on the election?”

Meanwhile, Progressive Conservative party executive director Kelley Charlebois said he understood the CRTC investigation into Wildrose was not over.

Wildrose president Dave Yager would not comment Friday on whether the CRTC’s review of his party was continuing. “I hope not,” he said.

However, a Wildrose official speaking on background said he believed the CRTC investigation was complete.

Smith was not made available to comment on Friday. Yager said the party had nothing to add to its initial Thursday statement on the CRTC penalty.

The CRTC would not comment on the matter Friday, with spokeswoman Patricia Valladao refusing to confirm or deny there was an investigation or enforcement order against Wildrose.

Wildrose says the CRTC investigation related to the information the party provided in automated calls, which are often referred to as robocalls. The rules regulating unsolicited phone calls say that automated calls must start with a clear message telling the listener who paid for it. The message must state the name of the sponsor, their mailing address and a local or toll-free number where the person or group can be reached.

The Wildrose has alleged the PC party engaged in the same practices during the 2012 general election that got their party in trouble with the CRTC. A day before the provincial vote on April 22, 2012, Wildrose accused the Tories of “dirty campaign tactics” and said it had forwarded information to the RCMP, Elections Alberta and the CRTC.

Both PC party president Jim McCormick and Charlebois said Friday the CRTC has not contacted them and the Tory party is not under investigation.