TORONTO – After sending people across the provinces texts asking who they’re voting for, Conservative organization Ontario Proud has sent a follow up text showing pictures of their children to the thousands of Ontarians who said they would be voting either NDP or Liberal.
“Hi this is Olivia from Ontario Proud. I think little Jackson would prefer you to vote PC,” read one text with an associated photo of a 5 year old playing on a jungle gym, clearly taken from the school parking lot.
“Sophie is going to be so disappointed when we tell her you don’t want to cut taxes,” read another.
It wasn’t immediately clear how Ontario Proud got the phone numbers of so many Ontario voters, much less pictures of their children in open settings where anyone could get to them if their parents don’t cooperate. But founder Jeff Ballingall denied any wrongdoing.
“This is all just market research. Anyone who does not want to receive texts or pictures of their children can simply reply with the word STOP, and I promise that most of your children will come home safe.”
A representative for Elections Ontario said she was not aware of any complaints against Ontario Proud arising from the texts, but admitted she had been a bit distracted by the fact that her dog had suddenly gone missing.
