CRTC Fines NDP MP Paul Dewar for Robocalls During Leadership Campaign

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Canada’s telecom regulatory authority has imposed a $7,000 fine against NDP MP Paul Dewar in lieu of the robocalls made by his 2012 leadership campaign that failed to appropriately inform the recipient as to who is making conversation. The penalty was imposed for violating long-standing rules that obligate candidates and dialing firms to inform recipients of the identity as to who is calling.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission officially fined Mr. Dewar for violating rules covering unsolicited phone calls made during Mr. Dewar’s leadership campaign. The calls were made to different members of the New Democratic Party during February 8 and 9 in 2012, which aimed to quantify the recipients’ preferred candidate choice for leader of the party, who was to replace outgoing chief Jack Layton. In an official statement issued on Friday, CRTC mentioned that “the calls did not specify at the outset that they were being made on behalf of Mr. Dewar’s campaign, nor did they include the call originator’s mailing address or a call back number.” It was highlighted that “Mr. Dewar cooperated fully with the CRTC’s investigation … and committed to establish a compliance program to ensure future adherence to the unsolicited telecommunications rules.”

The regulator alleged that it hopes that from now onwards politicians would strive to ensure they are following all rules set for the benefit of all. The chief compliance and enforcement officer at CRTC, Andrea Rosen, stated that “we expect candidates who are running political campaigns, and telemarketing service providers to put appropriate safeguards in place to ensure compliance with the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules.”