Alleged Conservative Blogsphere Scheme

Based on documentation forwarded, the following work-in-progress timeline of events allegedly demonstrates the quasi third-party nature of Blogging Tories and its tight link to the CPC. The Blogging Tories failed to register its Third Party Status or alternatively declare its allegedly direct relationship with the CPC as required by the Canada Elections Act.

Timeline (More is to come and the timeline may be tightened as more documents are found.)
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Alleged Activities:

January 2004 - Stephen Harper uses third party e-mails and websites to raise money for his leadership campaign. The pattern of using third-party agencies to raise money and spread messages is established.

American Election 2004 - Bloggers for Bush at work

Fall 2004 - CPC decides to mimic Bloggers for Bush. Use of Internet discussed on conservative only chats.

December 2004 - Conservative Life and Blogging Tories collaborate to merge, to mimic Bloggers for Bush (team of a dozen or more)

December 27th 2004 – Conservative Life announces intention to merge / collaborate with Blogging Tories and be like “Bloggers for Bush”

January 2005 - Diane Ablonczy via aid contacts Eugene Parks about finding Internet storywriters and arranges meeting at Victoria CPC caucus retreat.

January 2005 - Face-to-face CPC discussion (Diane Ablonczy and Eugene Parks) to create internet storywriters to mimic Bloggers for Bush

February 2005 - Call to action to find writers for effort to mimic Bloggers for Bush and get around the media "filter".

March 2005 - Blogging Tories endorsed at CPC convention

April 28th 2005 - Blogging Tories calls on conservative supporters to blog to get around "the filter". "The Conservative Party of Canada needs the blogosphere to deliver its message". Mr. Taylor declares that the blogging tories is, "a grassroots organization of Conservative Party supporters ".

Summer 2005 - Direct CPC feed and redistribution network setup through Blogging Tories. Stephen Taylor also provides professional website advice to CPC. June 30th, Blogging Tories bolds and highlights CPC members and MPs that use Blogging Tories for direct distribution of stories.

September 11th 2005 - Stephen Taylor declares: "I support the Leader and doing what I can to help this good man become the next Prime Minister of Canada".

March - December 2005 - Stephen Taylor advertises (and payment is made to advertise) Blogging Tories and Taylor proclaims himself the "attack dog" of the CPC. Blogging Tories states its purpose is to elect Stephen Harper and conservatives. Stephen Taylor makes the conservative rounds to advertise Blogging Tories – including rounds at CPC meetings.

Election 2005/2006 - Blogging Tories is fed direct "news" stories from the CPC that are directly posted on Blogging Tories Network. Other “news leaks” are fed uniquely to Blogging Tories. Blogging Tories is advertised (and payment is made to advertise). Blogging Tories raises money for CPC.

January 2006 - Allegations made that the Blogging Tories is not an Individual’s work as defined by the Canada Elections Act nor is it a genuine third party, but rather an arm of the CPC.

Blogging Tory "Angry in the Great White North" responds: What was the first clue, the name “Tory” or that Monte Solberg is one of the group?

Taylor attempts to refute the allegations by claiming that the timeline does not match his actions. . Taylor claims that Blogging Tories was set up one year prior to the alleged Fall 2004 – February 2005 call for writers for Internet Stories. However, Internet records and Steven Taylor’s own archives show Blogging Tories (the site) went live January 4th, 2005 – right in the middle of the effort to find writers (a.k.a. “talkers”).

Stephen Taylor claims the CPC did not pay for the Blogging Tories and that he personally did not receive direct payment from the CPC for the Blogging Tories site. However, he refuses to identify what payments he as received from the CPC or other third-party groups.

Taylor admits a group of a dozen set up Blogging Tories. He names a few names.

January 26th, Craig Smith of Blogging Tories admits that Blogging Tories was advertised and payment was made. He also states that Stephen Taylor is the CPC member that approached him. Craig refused to state how e-mail blasts and link priorities and highlighting on others sites was paid for. Taylor confirms that CPC campaign propaganda was being directly posted on Blogging Tories and being further directly redistributed. Craig Smith then resigns as Webmaster of Conservative Life and Blogging Tories.


Allegations:

1. Blogging Tories was not an individual's political statement
2. Blogging Tories was not an editorial news agency
3. Blogging Tories was working directly with the CPC to circulate CPC stories to the Blogging Tories web ring and beyond
4. CPC stories appeared directly on the Blogging Tories site
5. Blogging Tories gave professional web and web broadcast support to the CPC
6. Blogging Tories raised money for the CPC
7. Money was paid to advertise Blogging Tories
8. Most members of Blogging Tories web ring are members of the CPC - several are MPs and party officials. Stephen Taylor is a member of the CPC and volunteer. Craig Smith is a volunteer for the CPC.

The record apparently shows that the Blogging Tories is either a Third Party as defined by the Canada Elections Act or in fact part of the CPC campaign. Blogging Tories did not register as a Third Party.

Aboriginals and the New Government

New governments make their hearts known by the first things they do. Like all good stories, the introduction sets the stage; unfortunately in politics, the conclusion of each party’s story in power is generally the same – either corruption or weariness creates a demand for change. But for the first part of their story, they do have a chance to be different and try to create positive change.

And change is what Canadians voted for on January 23rd, 2006. Or was it? Stephen Harper’s minority government was given a very very short leash and the Liberal Party of Canada was given a time out – exactly what Canadians wanted. However, small ‘l’ liberals hold the majority of seats in parliament and a super majority of the popular votes went anywhere left of Harper’s Conservatives. So, how will Canada’s so-called far right respond to the voters' call for moderate, status quo, and centrist politics?

How will Stephen Harper begin his first chapter of the story of his conservative government?

Of note to minorities, and particularly Canada’s aboriginal communities, will be the question of how Harper will approach agreements such as the Kelowna accord. Harper stated ideological goal (since the mid-nineties and affirmed in the 2006 election) has been to divest Ottawa of power in favour of the provinces. In contrast, his prior party’s policy goal with aboriginals has been to divest aboriginals in favour of Ottawa.

Although Stephen Harper has no mandate to legislate without cross-party cooperation, the executive power of the Prime Minister’s office is great. Accordingly, his first real moves (beyond symbolic acts of parliament) will come through executive decisions. So, watch closely to see what kind of Prime Minister Canada has and how he chooses to use the only real power given to him by the People of Canada.

We are all interested in knowing what kind of story Stephen Harper wants to write, and we will know sooner rather than later by what he does, and does not do, in chapter one of the new conservative story.