A fundraising call by the Conservative Party of Canada has ignited controversy after a party representative cast doubt on the accuracy of recent judicial recounts in two tightly contested federal ridings. In a call recorded on Saturday and obtained by CBC News, a woman identifying herself as a member of the party’s supporter services claimed that Liberal forces and the media were trying to “attack” the Conservative Party and “scrutinize” their recount victories.
Referring to two recounts recently completed in Newfoundland’s Terra Nova–The Peninsulas and Ontario’s Windsor–Tecumseh–Lakeshore—both ultimately won by Conservative candidates—the caller implied that the results were not yet final, despite both Liberal opponents conceding and Elections Canada certifying the outcomes. “We need to stand up. We need to make sure all the votes are accurate and counted,” she told the former donor on the line.
The call was made a full week after the recounts had ended. The recipient, who had previously supported the Conservatives, said he felt insulted by what he viewed as an attempt to sow distrust in the electoral process for the sake of raising money. Concerned about potential backlash, he asked to remain anonymous.
CBC News verified the authenticity of the call, which originated from a number that leads to a voicemail identifying it as the Conservative Party’s voter outreach and fundraising office. During the conversation, the caller asked for a $1,750 donation to what she called the “Recount the Fight” fund, claiming that “political operators” were still on the ground because the results were being challenged by “Liberal media.”
The recipient pushed back, pointing out that the recounts were concluded and the results confirmed. “I didn’t really like your message. The recounts are already over. And I don’t believe in a media conspiracy, so you’re not selling me today,” he replied. The party official reiterated her stance, but abruptly hung up after further disagreement.
The party’s official spokesperson, Sarah Fischer, responded in a statement, clarifying that the Conservative Party was not questioning the results of the recounts but aimed only to ensure they were “accurate and fair.” She added that the party is reviewing the conduct of the caller, noting that proper phone etiquette is expected.
This incident follows earlier Conservative fundraising messages that suggested the Liberal Party was trying to manipulate recount outcomes to “tip the scales” and edge closer to a majority—a tactic critics describe as misleading. Experts like Chris Tenove of the University of British Columbia say such messaging is part of a broader strategy used to spark urgency and raise money quickly, often by playing on mistrust or misinformation. He warned that this type of fundraising can erode public confidence in democracy.
Canadian recounts are overseen by Elections Canada and are triggered automatically when results fall within a very narrow margin—0.1 per cent or less of the vote count. Both Conservative candidates, Jonathan Rowe and Kathy Borrelli, emerged victorious in the officially reviewed results, and no formal challenges remain.
Still, a recent Leger poll showed that one in four Conservative supporters doubts the validity of election results, a sign that mistrust continues to linger in parts of the electorate. Some fear that tactics echoing post-election narratives in the United States could take hold in Canada, undermining faith in the democratic process.
The Conservative Party’s attempt to leverage that sentiment for donations may have backfired in this case, with one former donor calling the message unacceptable. The controversy raises new questions about the ethical boundaries of political fundraising in Canada.