Reality Check: Conservative Party lawyer draws criticism for interference in voter suppression interrogations

The Conservative Party of Canada loves to run away from accountability – and seems particularly keen to avoid coming clean about any role they might have played in voter suppression calls in the last election.

New documents revealed the disturbing involvement of Conservative Party lawyer, Arthur Hamilton, in recent interrogations of Conservative Party operatives as part of the ongoing Elections Canada investigation into voter suppression during the 2011 Election.

Global National reported:

“[Arthur Hamilton] spoke for witnesses and directed the questions.”

“Arthur Hamilton sat in on the interviews with the witnesses, who had all worked as Conservative staffers.”

“[Arthur Hamilton] took charge of the interrogation, telling witnesses what to say and speaking for them.”

Global National further reported that Hamilton’s participation has at least one Conservative staffer now publicly speaking out, lamenting their lack of autonomy:

“Well I said I didn’t need a lawyer, wasn’t commenting. I don’t suppose the Conservative Party of Canada lawyer counts, because my choice in that matter wasn’t exercised.”
– Disgruntled Conservative staffer, Sept 12, 2013

Of course, this from the same Conservative Party that Federal Court Judge Richard Mosley blamed for delaying a federal court case on voter suppression calls. The judge said that the Conservative Party, represented by Arthur Hamilton, engaged in “trench warfare in an effort to prevent this case from coming to a hearing” and that Conservatives “made little effort to assist with the investigation.” (2013 FC 525)

Which leaves Canadians asking the question: why would counsel for the Conservative Party of Canada be so heavily involved in this investigation, if they have nothing to hide?

As Mark Twain once observed: “If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything.”

Canadians deserve better.