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Are ethics and politics mutually exclusive terms?

What are we to make of this latest allegation of "robo calls" that were designed to mislead voters as to their polling stations?

Editor, The Times:

What are we to make of this latest revelation of allegations of  "robo calls" that were designed to mislead voters as to their polling stations? The Conservatives, including Prime Minister Harper have responded by saying, "Prove it."  Of course, in our legal system, we require that allegations be supported by factual evidence provided by a proper investigation, conducted by a judicial inquiry or royal commission.

The chances of either type of fact-finding process in this political environment are slim to none.  Yet we have the example of the sponsorship scandal under the former Liberal government, which was investigated and did tremendous damage to the Liberal fortunes across Canada and especially in Quebec.

Could these incidents (the robo calls) destroy Conservative credibility, as did the sponsorship scandal for the Liberals and the airbus affair for the Conservative government of Brian Mulroney?  So far, the Harper government has been very successful in diverting or spinning accusations against them but I believe that there is a saturation point of public trust beyond which the Canadian public will not go.

It should be a very interesting session in parliament.

Wes Morden

Blackpool, B.C.