Conservative fundraising email suggests Liberals trying to 'tip the scales' in recounts

A Conservative Party fundraising email alleges the Liberals are trying to "tip the scales" in riding recounts, language some political watchers say is concerning as some Canadians say they don't trust the results of last week's election.

The email, sent to the Conservatives' mailing list on Wednesday, solicits donations to "help us hold the line" as recounts play out.

"The Liberals are working to flip just enough seats to edge closer to a majority. We can't let that happen," reads the email.

"If we don't act fast, we risk losing the gains we made on election night."

It concludes by saying "the Liberals are fighting hard to tip the scales." 

Under Canadian law, recounts are automatically triggered when the difference in the number of votes received by the top-finishing candidates is 0.1 per cent or less of the total number votes cast. A candidate can also request a judicial recount under certain circumstances.

Elections Canada is the independent agency responsible for overseeing the federal election and recounts, following the rules set out in the Canada Elections Act. 

The Conservative Party did not respond to a CBC News request to explain how they think the Liberals are tipping the scales. 

Chris Tenove, assistant director of the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions, said there are legitimate reasons for parties to help scrutinize results, especially in tight races, to make sure the counting is done correctly.

"On the other hand, some of the language around the Liberals trying to tip the scales was concerning," he said.

"In general that kind of ad that's suggesting there's an emergency that people need to respond to right now to get funding to political parties is troubling."

Tenove and other researchers at the University of British Columbia spent the election monitoring online spaces for narratives sowing distrust around the electoral process — from rumours people were able to vote multiple times to pencil marks being erased.

"There is a lot that is bubbling online and offline, but we can see it online, of these stories about our elections being unfair or rigged," he said. 

Worry about election distrust surging on this side of the border comes in the aftermath of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, which gave rise to the "Stop the Steal" movement. That movement is based on the debunked conspiracy that former president Joe Biden's win was rigged. It fuelled the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Capitol Hill and continues to erode trust in democratic institutions.