The Conservative MPs are sending out pathetic polls asking “Do you support Stephen Harper’s tax cuts? [] Yes [] No”. As if that isn’t bad enough, I found one blowing in the wind outside of my apartment building. I picked it up, and it was from Gerry Ritz. One big problem; he’s the MP for Battlefords-Lloydminster which is over 400km away! The flyer didn’t blow here, I found others like it in the junk mail discard bin under the mail boxes. What the heck are his MP communication flyers doing in Regina?
I think the Conservatives are spamming names of their non-disgraced MPs in places other than where they are elected, to try and got non-compromised names in front of the public. Lukiwski, Vellacott, contribute to the growing, and unflattering list of Saskatchewan Conservatives with serious scandals in the not so distant past.
Wandering Coyote noticed this sham attack advertising which uses your tax money (to respond to MPs, and I won’t confirm to receive it from them, but I suspect that too) in the guise of MP-constituent communication. She also learned officially why it’s happening.
I think Ritz’s propaganda ending up in Ralph Goodale’s riding, is not by coincidence.
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Hat tip to Ryan A.
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And it really couldn’t be more fitting than having a Blob of Oil speaking for Harper’s Conservatives in the latest Flash attack ads on Dion. It fits so well - slimy, out of Alberta, and ready to cause more global warming. See willyoubetricked.ca if you’re interested in seeing the ridiculous ad.
@hotmail.com
![[EFC Blue Ribbon - Free Speech Online]](http://www.efc.ca/images/efcfreet.gif)
Saskboy | 10-Jun-08 at 5:54 pm | Permalink
So far I’ve counted 3 mail outs, all from Ritz. It’s so funny that its his that are randomly ending up in the only Liberal riding in the province…
Wandering Coyote | 10-Jun-08 at 6:02 pm | Permalink
Thanks for blogging about this! I heard back from a couple of other people about this, too, but I fear it’s far more widespread than is getting attention. I haven’t had anything in my mailbox for a few weeks now, but I’m sure there will be more. I have been mailing back the tear-off portion with snarky messages on them, which kinda makes me feel good, and it’s free.
WesternGrit | 10-Jun-08 at 6:30 pm | Permalink
That’s not even Ralph Goodales’ body in that pic. Ritz is a joke. They’ve been targeting Ralph for years…
Sandi | 10-Jun-08 at 6:44 pm | Permalink
I have a suggestion here - because this is total misreprentation and if you want it out big time - send your blog/photos/comments to Garth Turner. Then everyone will see it.
You may not want to, but I truly think people should know.
Email/contact:
garth@garth.ca
or, as a comment on the Turner Report - email might be better.
Well done.
Wandering Coyote | 10-Jun-08 at 7:09 pm | Permalink
Sandi: just curious - why Garth Turner?
Saskboy | 10-Jun-08 at 7:16 pm | Permalink
Thanks for the suggestion Sandi, I sent an email.
Frank Frink | 10-Jun-08 at 10:17 pm | Permalink
You’ve just figured out that they’re doing this now - mailing out 10%ers out of riding? They’ve been doing this for months and months.
re: Garth Turner - Garth has done several posts about this on his blog over the past few months. Go there a do a search. Do a news search, Do a search on ProgBlogs etc…
I’m serious Saskboy. This. Has. Been. Going. On. For. Months. And. Months.
here’s one from early April - And I’ll point out right now that it’s a satirical take lest you believe these are actual samples. They’re parodies of the push-poll stuff the Cons have been doing. For. Months.
http://www.acreativerevolution.ca/node/864
You can probably find some of the links back to Garth from here:
http://www.acreativerevolution.ca/search/node/flyers
Here’s one of Garth’s from March 25th:
http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2008/03/25/dear-idiots/
OK. Let’s start paying attention.
Saskboy | 10-Jun-08 at 10:19 pm | Permalink
Yes Frank, I already said I’d counted 3, this wasn’t just yesterday. Thank you though for the additional timeline, and background.
Jennifer Smith | 10-Jun-08 at 11:23 pm | Permalink
They’re right - Turner’s been bitching about this practise for months now, not just on his blog but in the national papers. His riding of Halton has been particularly hard hit recently by missives from none other than Petite Pierre Poilievre.
I must say, though, that the anti-Francophone tone of these is not only disturbing but somewhat… disingenuous given Harper’s pandering efforts towards Quebec.
Oh, I’m sorry - these were distributed in Saskatchewan, right?
And I love that they used the word “elitist”. How very Rovian of them.
Saskboy | 10-Jun-08 at 11:29 pm | Permalink
Yeah, with Goodale in both photo(shopped) and text form, it’s clear that these were never specifically intended for Ritz’s riding as MP communication. And it would be good if people in Quebec saw the drivel the Conservatives are putting out in the rest of the country.
Liz | 11-Jun-08 at 2:46 am | Permalink
The issue of the ten percenters has been going on for some time, and Garth Turner has been bringing it to Canadians’ attention for months now. A shameful waste of money with the Harper Conservatives taking the lion’s share.
I know. I’ve received this year 3 per month from an MP in a riding far removed from my own.
I’ve amused myself, and added to the work of Canada Post, by dutifully cutting off the mail-in part, recycling the rest. I fill in the slanted and doltish check-boxes with black marker with phrases like: “Explain the tape!”, “Why are you wasting taxpayer’s money?” or “Who’s riding do you think this is anyway?” or “Am I paying for this?” and the ever-popular: “Why aren’t you peddling your stuff where YOU live?”
I’ve gone so far as to put up signs around the neighbourhood that people receiving this taxpayer-paid junk mail can do: a) send the POS back!; b) answer the simple question…; c) write their own concerns on it; and d) recycle the works and pray for the trees the Harper Party uses in it’s unseemly lust for power!
All the while reminding them that this form of communication with government is FREE! And to remember the postie come Christmas, since it is he or she hauling this taxpayer-funded shite around.
Sandi | 11-Jun-08 at 6:09 am | Permalink
Why - because Garth Turner irritates the Tories to no end because he points things out about them - and because a lot of people read him (especially Tory trolls) and I suspect Harper’s office.
Jennifer Smith | 11-Jun-08 at 9:03 am | Permalink
Liz - Well, not free exactly - our tax dollars still cover Canada Post’s costs in sending the stuff. But no, you don’t have to stick a stamp on it. In fact, a certain constituency office person told me that you can wrap the thing around a brick and send it back.
That could be entertaining.
Wandering Coyote | 11-Jun-08 at 9:32 am | Permalink
Sandi: thanks. I’ll take a look through Garth’s blog to see what he has to say about this. I’ve been receiving these mailers for MONTHS and only recently decided to keep closer track of them
Liz: I’ve been doing what you have - sending the mail-in part back with my “feedback.” I mean, why not? They want my opinoin, they can have my opinion, and I’m more than happy to have my tax dollars go towards someone reading what I have to say.
Wandering Coyote | 11-Jun-08 at 9:51 am | Permalink
I have just emailed Garth.
John Murney | 11-Jun-08 at 7:08 pm | Permalink
Saskboy, this is not a random event. Goodale is the only non-Conservative MP left in Alberta and Saskatcheawn, and the Conservatives are intent on defeating him this time. I predict we will begin to see Conservative MPs and Cabinet Ministers bombard Wascana as the next federal election draws near.
Zhu | 11-Jun-08 at 8:03 pm | Permalink
I love the J.Trudeau quote. If you wanna scare Canadians, talk to them of Quebec and bilinguism, always works :lol:
Sean S. | 12-Jun-08 at 7:53 am | Permalink
Vellacott still sends out flyers on a regular basis to his Wanuskewin riding….
donna | 19-Jun-08 at 10:56 am | Permalink
This story was also covered in saskatoon in our lovely planet s magazine back in May:
http://www.planetsmag.com/content.php?vn=6&is=19&an=735&sc=2
Saskboy | 19-Jun-08 at 11:30 am | Permalink
Thanks Donna, I changed the link so it works.
Abandoned Stuff by Saskboy :: The Shame of Being a Conservative MP | 25-Jul-08 at 7:48 am | Permalink
[...] whose fliers pointed at Goodale, ended up in my mailbox. Garth Turner and many other bloggers including myself have previously talked about this sham. It will be up to voters to punish the Conservatives for [...]