‼️ Announcement ‼️
I’m suspending my campaign to become the next federal Conservative candidate & MP for Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill.
Sadly, I no longer have faith in the election’s integrity.
Here's why 🧵
I’m suspending my campaign to become the next federal Conservative candidate & MP for Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill.
Sadly, I no longer have faith in the election’s integrity.
Here's why 🧵
Despite raising concerns to the Conservative Party nearly two weeks ago –– despite submitting clear evidence of a corrupted process and potential illegal actions taken by another campaign –– nothing has been done.
There has been no evidence that a promised internal investigation is actually underway.
No next steps shared.
There has been no evidence that a promised internal investigation is actually underway.
No next steps shared.
Despite repeated requests, there's been zero communication to candidates or the riding’s Conservative voters to make them aware of interference with the democratic process.
Zero communication that my campaign has been the clear target of highly unethical, and potentially illegal, efforts to sway the vote.
Zero meaningful reassurance to me, other candidates, or voters, that this will still be an open and fair election.
Zero communication that my campaign has been the clear target of highly unethical, and potentially illegal, efforts to sway the vote.
Zero meaningful reassurance to me, other candidates, or voters, that this will still be an open and fair election.
As a result, I can’t in good conscience continue to be a part of this process.
This isn’t something I ever expected to say, and is, frankly, heartbreaking after 110 days of campaigning and making many sacrifices to be a part of a conservative movement I believe in deeply–– one that values freedom, the rule of law, and a strong democracy.
This isn’t something I ever expected to say, and is, frankly, heartbreaking after 110 days of campaigning and making many sacrifices to be a part of a conservative movement I believe in deeply–– one that values freedom, the rule of law, and a strong democracy.
The Conservative Party's rules for nominations are clear: "A copy of the list of current members will not be provided prior to the Closing Notice."
No candidate will receive an official list before the party green lights them.
This is because having an updated membership is a huge advantage. It allows a campaign to target local members, who are the only ones who can vote in a nomination, with 100% efficiency.
No candidate will receive an official list before the party green lights them.
This is because having an updated membership is a huge advantage. It allows a campaign to target local members, who are the only ones who can vote in a nomination, with 100% efficiency.
If one campaign has this list and others don't, the nomination is effectively rigged in their favour.
They can pour all their time and resources into targeting this list while other campaigns cast broader nets. They can be the first to interact with confirmed voters, ask for their vote, and campaign against other candidates.
By the time other candidates get an official list, voters have already made commitments, the opportunity for first impressions is lost, and the pool has been poisoned against them.
Every day with an official list is akin to campaigning for weeks without one. That's how significant it is.
They can pour all their time and resources into targeting this list while other campaigns cast broader nets. They can be the first to interact with confirmed voters, ask for their vote, and campaign against other candidates.
By the time other candidates get an official list, voters have already made commitments, the opportunity for first impressions is lost, and the pool has been poisoned against them.
Every day with an official list is akin to campaigning for weeks without one. That's how significant it is.
There is clear evidence that another campaign in my nomination race had access to not just an official membership list, but updated versions of it before the Closing Notice and before the candidate was greenlit.
They didn't just have access to the list of members at the start of the contest, but were being updated with new members' names and contact information as other campaigns made sales.
This is blatantly against the rules. Note member data can only be pulled from the Conservative Party's tightly-controlled Constituent Information Management System, or CIMS.
They didn't just have access to the list of members at the start of the contest, but were being updated with new members' names and contact information as other campaigns made sales.
This is blatantly against the rules. Note member data can only be pulled from the Conservative Party's tightly-controlled Constituent Information Management System, or CIMS.
The morning after the membership sales deadline, a mass email was sent to an updated version of the official membership list that no candidate was allowed to have yet. No one had been greenlit.
The subject: "IMPORTANT INFO: Sabrina Maddeaux"
It was full of defamatory smear attacks and deliberate misinformation about me.
The subject: "IMPORTANT INFO: Sabrina Maddeaux"
It was full of defamatory smear attacks and deliberate misinformation about me.
The email blast was sent via MailChimp by "Norman McDaniel," who claimed to be "a concerned conservative in Aurora–-Oak Ridges–-Richmond Hill."
After his smear job and targeted misinformation, he wrote, "Our community deserves better. We must not have someone like this as a Candidate who does not share our values and will embarrass us should she make it to Parliament." (emphasis his)
After his smear job and targeted misinformation, he wrote, "Our community deserves better. We must not have someone like this as a Candidate who does not share our values and will embarrass us should she make it to Parliament." (emphasis his)
The email was forwarded to me not just by existing members, but even more concerning, new members who we sold memberships to in recent weeks.
Sometimes, old lists float around. This wasn't that. This email was sent to new members who had never been part of the Conservative Party before and would not appear on any old lists.
Crucially, no one had ever heard of "Norman McDaniel."
Sometimes, old lists float around. This wasn't that. This email was sent to new members who had never been part of the Conservative Party before and would not appear on any old lists.
Crucially, no one had ever heard of "Norman McDaniel."
Multiple members told me they felt harassed by this unknown sender, didn't feel secure voting, and were concerned about both their data being compromised and the integrity of the election. I will post some of the notes we received in a separate thread.
It was obvious why they might feel intimidated. An unknown entity had their confidential personal information and was attempting to aggressively influence their vote, which is also supposed to be confidential.
Moreover, Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill is one of the 13 ridings alleged to have been the target of foreign interference in 2021.
Multiple members filed complaints with the Privacy Commissioner, Elections Canada, and complained to the Conservative Party. We also shared these complaints, as well as our own concerns, with the Party.
It was obvious why they might feel intimidated. An unknown entity had their confidential personal information and was attempting to aggressively influence their vote, which is also supposed to be confidential.
Moreover, Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill is one of the 13 ridings alleged to have been the target of foreign interference in 2021.
Multiple members filed complaints with the Privacy Commissioner, Elections Canada, and complained to the Conservative Party. We also shared these complaints, as well as our own concerns, with the Party.
As it turned out, "Norman McDaniel" is not a real person. After some pressure, the Party confirmed there was no member in the riding with that name.
Someone created a fake identity to impersonate a local riding member and spread a defamatory, misinformation-filled smear campaign about me.
They wanted to do this under the cloak of anonymity, posing as a fellow local Conservative member to create a false sense of trust, credibility, and social proof.
Someone created a fake identity to impersonate a local riding member and spread a defamatory, misinformation-filled smear campaign about me.
They wanted to do this under the cloak of anonymity, posing as a fellow local Conservative member to create a false sense of trust, credibility, and social proof.
You'd think an anonymous person sending defamatory and misinformation-filled emails to an updated membership list no one is supposed to have would concern the Conservative Party, particularly given recent headlines and hearings, as well as the riding's history.
As one member wrote to me, "The smearing is either coming from an outside entity, which is highly concerning, or an inside entity, which is more concerning."
As one member wrote to me, "The smearing is either coming from an outside entity, which is highly concerning, or an inside entity, which is more concerning."
We made repeated requests to the Party to email members and, at minimum, inform them there appeared to be unauthorized access to the membership list, that no person with the name "Norman McDaniel" was a riding member, and that they would ensure the integrity of the vote.
They refused to do so.
We were offered a vague promise they would look into the situation.
They refused to do so.
We were offered a vague promise they would look into the situation.
While the Party refused to act, the anonymous smear campaign continued. Three days after the first email was sent to members, it was sent to the list a second time.
Remember, my campaign did not have access to an updated membership list and so couldn't so much as defend ourselves or warn members about this clear attempt to interfere in the democratic process.
After much more badgering, the Party finally agreed to let us file an official complaint and initiate an investigation. We did, submitting all our evidence as well as member complaints.
Remember, my campaign did not have access to an updated membership list and so couldn't so much as defend ourselves or warn members about this clear attempt to interfere in the democratic process.
After much more badgering, the Party finally agreed to let us file an official complaint and initiate an investigation. We did, submitting all our evidence as well as member complaints.
No next steps or timelines were given. The Party still refused to inform members of anything.
After the second email, another campaign approached us to say their recent membership sales had also received the smear email. We encouraged them to submit their complaint and evidence to the Party, and they did.
More silence.
After the second email, another campaign approached us to say their recent membership sales had also received the smear email. We encouraged them to submit their complaint and evidence to the Party, and they did.
More silence.
Something else interesting began to happen.
We began to receive reports that one campaign's volunteers were showing up at doors of members we recently sold to. This was no random canvassing –– remember, membership sales were closed –– this was targeted canvassing with the goal of influencing members' votes.
We heard other campaigns' new members were also being targeted. A third campaign now complained to the Party, as did we... again.
We began to receive reports that one campaign's volunteers were showing up at doors of members we recently sold to. This was no random canvassing –– remember, membership sales were closed –– this was targeted canvassing with the goal of influencing members' votes.
We heard other campaigns' new members were also being targeted. A third campaign now complained to the Party, as did we... again.
We always had our suspicions, but it was now pretty clear which campaign had an updated membership list and was behind the smear attacks.
Moreover, volunteers showing up at these doors were using near identical talking points as "Norman McDaniel" in his emails.
Still, the Party did nothing.
Moreover, volunteers showing up at these doors were using near identical talking points as "Norman McDaniel" in his emails.
Still, the Party did nothing.
Here, I will drop a couple relevant sections of the criminal code:
Identity fraud
403 (1) Everyone commits an offence who fraudulently personates another person, living or dead,
(a) with intent to gain advantage for themselves or another person;
(b) with intent to obtain any property or an interest in any property;
(c) with intent to cause disadvantage to the person being personated or another person; or
(d) with intent to avoid arrest or prosecution or to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice.
False information
372 (1) Everyone commits an offence who, with intent to injure or alarm a person, conveys information that they know is false, or causes such information to be conveyed by letter or any means of telecommunication.
Identity fraud
403 (1) Everyone commits an offence who fraudulently personates another person, living or dead,
(a) with intent to gain advantage for themselves or another person;
(b) with intent to obtain any property or an interest in any property;
(c) with intent to cause disadvantage to the person being personated or another person; or
(d) with intent to avoid arrest or prosecution or to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice.
False information
372 (1) Everyone commits an offence who, with intent to injure or alarm a person, conveys information that they know is false, or causes such information to be conveyed by letter or any means of telecommunication.
Credible evidence and suspicion that a candidate was guilty of not just breaking the Party's nomination rules or engaging in highly unethical conduct, but potentially committed a criminal offence, should obviously be taken incredibly seriously.
Candidates have been disqualified for much less.
Instead, the candidate whose campaign we suspect was greenlit by the Party on Monday evening. (I was also greenlit that night.)
Candidates have been disqualified for much less.
Instead, the candidate whose campaign we suspect was greenlit by the Party on Monday evening. (I was also greenlit that night.)
Now, nearly two weeks after the first email went out, there have been no updates on the investigation, still no next steps or timelines given, and no communications to voters or candidates about the matter.
As a result, it's impossible to have faith in this election's integrity, or that it will be an open and fair nomination.
Without action by the Party, the democratic process has been irrevocably corrupted and rigged in one candidates' favour.
As a result, it's impossible to have faith in this election's integrity, or that it will be an open and fair nomination.
Without action by the Party, the democratic process has been irrevocably corrupted and rigged in one candidates' favour.
I’d like to thank my dedicated team, as well as supporters, donors, and volunteers who believed in my mission and gave so much of themselves to it. I also couldn’t in good conscience continue to ask you to contribute to a corrupted contest.
The voters of Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill deserve to democratically choose their next Conservative candidate and MP. They deserve to know when there's been a breach of trust. They deserve to feel safe voting.
I hope they still get the chance to do so.
The voters of Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill deserve to democratically choose their next Conservative candidate and MP. They deserve to know when there's been a breach of trust. They deserve to feel safe voting.
I hope they still get the chance to do so.
I call on the Conservative Party of Canada to secure our democratic nomination process, protect our values, and stand up to corrupt campaigns that show disdain for both.
/end.
/end.
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