Based on some nagging doubts and some solid information, I decided to double check into the story about the mysterious phone calls being made in the riding of Conservative MP Gary Lunn.

As you might recall, there was a story posted at Free Dominion, alleging that people in Gary Lunn's riding were getting calls from someone pretending to be representing Gary Lunn, and during the course of the conversation, dropping the bombshell that Gary Lunn does not support Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper.

That was reported on Sunday, two days ago.

Yesterday, I called Gary Lunn's office and spoke to Logan, an executive assistant, who said he had not heard of this, and that it was not likely to be true. We all chalked it up to an internet myth.

Another day has gone by. I just got off the phone with Logan, and the story has changed somewhat. True to his word, he found his boss and talked to him about it. This is what he understands happened. Someone did make a phone call to a constituent. As far as he knows, there was only one such phone call. That constituent heard something during that conversation that made him or her concerned, and then that person called Gary Lunn, who assured the constituent that all was well, including Gary Lunn's genuine support for Stephen Harper (which Logan pegged at 150%, something that, after a moment, caused us both to laugh because it seemed like such a cliche).

So is there a story here? Apparently there is, but what it is, I'm not certain yet. The truth lies somewhere in between the extremes. Something did happen. But was it a dirty trick, or just a confused political discussion?

I'll keep checking. And if you are an MP, or work for an MP of any party, and you are reading this, you might do well to check if there is a pattern of weird mischievous calls being made in your riding.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 12:37 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Update: Apparently there is something to this after all.

Yesterday I posted about a rumour going around that constituents in Gary Lunn's riding in British Columbia were receiving calls from someone pretending to be speaking on Lunn's behalf. That person would then chat and let drop the little bombshell that Gary Lunn doesn't support Stephen Harper. The rumour then has it that the person called Gary Lunn's home, presumably unintentionally, and that Lunn has since gotten in touch with the press and the RCMP.

I just got off the phone with Gary Lunn's executive assistant in the BC constituency office, and he says the story simply isn't true. I sent him the link to the original post in Free Dominion, and he's double-checking with the boss, but is certain he would have heard something.

And he made it absolutely clear: Gary Lunn fully supports Stephen Harper!

Cute story. But it looks like this was one crime the Liberals did not perpetrate.

We'll just have to settle for all the other ones.

[Looks like small dead animals is also confirming that this story is just a fabrication.]

Posted by: Steve Janke at 12:37 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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Just who is Paul Martin calling?

Update #2: Retract that retraction! Maybe there is something to this after all.

UPDATE #1: Apparently this story is just so much smoke.

There is a story on Free Dominion that a Conservative MP, Gary Lunn representing the BC riding of Saanich--Gulf Islands, has been the target of a dirty trick.

I have not been able to get any confirmation of this, given that it is Sunday, and no one is in either the constituency office or the parliamentary office to answer calls.

As the Official Opposition Critic of Public Works, Lunn has been a busy man, and probably has more than a few enemies in the Liberal Party.

As I write this, there is a story that his constituents in his riding are getting calls from someone claiming to call on Gary Lunn's behalf.

During the course of conversation, the caller reveals that Gary Lunn does not support Stephen Harper.

How is it that we know? Because the caller made the mistake of calling Gary Lunn's home to deliver the message of infighting between Gary Lunn and the leadership of the Conservative Party.

Well, news of infighting inside the Conservative Party on the cusp of an election call is sure to give pause to any potential voter.

It also gave pause to Gary Lunn himself, when he himself received the call!

According to the account, Gary Lunn has reported the call to the RCMP and to the press.

We'll see if any of the major media outlets report on these shenanigans, or if the Mounties dig up anything.

Is the story true? Are the Liberals behind this? Well, I expect that if they are, they've been careful to avoid leaving any traces back to them. But then maybe they wouldn't have expected to have been caught so quickly, so who knows just how careful they were.

If they're behind this, that is. And if the story is true.

I'll try to find out more tomorrow.

Posted by: Steve Janke at 07:44 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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