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OTTAWA The Liberal government is attempting to fix its own law against publishing false information about a political figure to influence an election after an Ontario judge ruled it violated the Charter’s right to free expression.
Canada has had an election misinformation law for many decades, but until recently it required that a person “knowingly” make or publish a false statement about a political figure with the intention of affecting an election result.
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Hundreds of complaints about false statements during 2019 campaign investigated
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He says all but two or three have been resolved and none have been prosecuted.
While 400 may seem like a large number, Cote says the complaints were clustered around roughly a half-dozen allegedly false statements – with many of them using identical language, suggesting an organized campaign.
To the best of his recollection, Cote says the complaints all involved misinformation targeting white males.
Cote offered those details Wednesday during testimony before a Senate committee that is conducting a pre-study of the federal government’s budget implementation bill.
OTTAWA - Elections commissioner Yves Cote says his office investigated some 400 complaints about false statements allegedly made during the 2019 federal election campaign.
Hundreds of complaints about false statements during 2019 campaign investigated
by Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press
Posted May 12, 2021 8:45 pm EDT
Last Updated May 12, 2021 at 8:58 pm EDT
OTTAWA Elections commissioner Yves Cote says his office investigated some 400 complaints about false statements allegedly made during the 2019 federal election campaign.
He says all but two or three have been resolved and none have been prosecuted.
While 400 may seem like a large number, Cote says the complaints were clustered around roughly a half-dozen allegedly false statements with many of them using identical language, suggesting an organized campaign.
To the best of his recollection, Cote says the complaints all involved misinformation targeting white males.
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