Canada Liberals Accuse Tories Of Cheating In 2006 Election

April 23, 2008 8:01 a.m. EST

Montreal, Canada (AHN) - Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has accused Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a Tory, of cheating in the 2006 election. The charge of electoral fraud came up as the Conservative Party faces investigation over election overspending.

Dion told media, quoted by the Canadian Press, "The allegation is that the Conservative Party cheated at the last election... tried to cover it up after and (were) caught."

According to the search warrant issued by the Election Commission, the Tories made false and misleading statements on their financial statements for the 2006 poll. It specifically said the Conservatives went beyond the $18 million spending limit set by law by $1 million.

Dion said the excess amount could have been used to influence the result of the national election which resulted in the ouster of the Liberal Party from power. "It may have had an effect," Dion said, "We'll never know for sure, but you don't cheat for nothing. You cheat because you want to have an effect. You want to have more voters for you in an illegal way."

The Conservative Party denied Dion's accusation.