Formal complaint alleges Advance Regina broke privacy rules during municipal election

Article content Elections Saskatchewan says it has received a formal complaint alleging misuse of private voter information by third-party actor Advance Regina in the recent municipal election. According to emails provided by Rally Around Homelessness (RAH), the community group filed formal complaints with Elections Saskatchewan and Elections Canada in October, accusing Advance Regina of violating provisions related to the use of voter data under the federal Canada Elections Act and provincial Election Act. Advance Regina describes itself as a grassroots advocacy group concerned with the working of Regina’s municipal government.

It endorsed a slate of city council candidates prior to last week’s election. RAH is a volunteer collective working to provide grassroots supports to the unhoused and vulnerable in Regina. During the election period, the group surveyed municipal candidates and shared answers on social media ahead of Wednesday’s vote.



The group’s complaint, which was obtained by the Leader-Post, alleges that more than one municipal candidate disclosed to RAH that Advance Regina had a mobile app hosting membership lists for the Saskatchewan Party and Conservative Party of Canada. Included with the complaint is a screenshot of the canvassing app, CIMS to Go or C2G, showing both the Saskatchewan Party and Conservative Party as “live” selections. The smartphone app has been used by the Conservative Party since 2015.

In its submission, RAH claims Advance Regina’s alleged possession of such information “appears to circumvent both legal and ethical boundaries.” “Our concern is purely the privacy aspects and the (Canada Elections Act),” reads the complaint. “Engagement with citizens should be encouraged within the rules and protections designed to ensure fair processes for everyone.

” The Leader-Post contacted Advance Regina regarding the allegations and received an unattributed email response calling the accusation “unequivocally false.” “Advance Regina does not have access to voter information obtained by the Saskatchewan Party or any other political party for that matter,” read the email. The complaint is currently under review, Elections Saskatchewan said in an email statement provided last week.

“We have received an inquiry on this topic and are examining whether it falls under the jurisdiction of the (Election) Act,” said the statement. The office of the commissioner of Canada Elections declined to say whether a complaint had or had not been received, citing “confidentiality provisions.” If an investigation did occur and resulted in “formal measures being taken,” such information would be made public, said a spokesperson in an email response last week.

An email exchange between the commissioner and RAH provided to the Leader-Post indicates the federal office received the complaint. Within those emails, the commissioner notes that the Canada Elections Act “cannot be applied to other electoral events” aside from federal ones. Elections Regina said it “has been made aware” of the complaints made to the other two elections bodies.

Voter lists collected by elections organizations in Canada contain the name, address, gender, date of birth and registration record for each voter on the register. Registered political parties or candidates may use this information to communicate with electors, solicit contributions or recruit for membership. Political parties may also collect their own data such as voters’ telephone numbers, political preferences or donation histories — which the Conservative Party does — but must abide by set privacy policies.

Sask. Party executive director Patrick Bundrock said he was “not aware of the allegation” that a third party may be utilizing Sask. Party internal voter data.

“The Saskatchewan Party has no affiliation with any federal or municipal campaign and never authorizes any of our voter information to be used by any federal or municipal campaign,” Bundrock said in a recent email. “Should any member of the public file a complaint with the Saskatchewan Party it will be fully investigated.” Conservative Party privacy officer Jeremy Hollingsworth did not respond to the Leader-Post’s request for comment.

However, an email exchange between him and the RAH, which was also provided to the Leader-Post, indicates that he told RAH the federal party was not aware of any unauthorized use of internal voter data and “will investigate.” “The Conservative Party does not authorize distribution of personal information provided to us, to any third party,” said Hollingsworth in the exchange. Advance Regina said it has seen the claims being made on social media by “another third party group.

” “This group seems opposed to our ideas and our values in fighting for a Regina City Council that focuses on core services, lower taxes, the elimination of wasteful spending and a safer Regina,” the email stated. Advance Regina did not respond when asked if the group operates a mobile app or whether it provided any resources to city council candidates. Under the Canada Elections Act, prohibited use of information on elector lists is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, up to one year of jail time or both.

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