Dozens of people in Montreal, including the dead, have been improperly signed up as federal Liberal party members. A Toronto Star investigation has found unsuspecting Quebecers — some surprised to find out they were instant Liberals — were sent membership cards and letters urging them to vote next weekend at all-important meetings to elect delegates to the Liberal convention to choose a new leader.Using membership lists from the Quebec wing of the federal Liberal party, the Star talked to more than 70 families who reported significant problems in their own case, or in that of other family members. Most often, they hadn't paid the membership fee which party rules stipulate must be paid by the actual member. Toronto MP Joe Volpe's campaign was named as having paid for the memberships for nine people, according to Star interviews. Scores of others don't know who called them. A Volpe campaign insider said last night the instructions were that the Volpe name wasn't generally to be cited in telephone recruitment.
The federal Liberal party is investigating an official complaint that the Volpe campaign bought memberships in Papineau riding. The complaint was forwarded by riding officials, who also examined a list of members signed up by the leadership campaign of Toronto MP Michael Ignatieff (Etobicoke-Lakeshore). No anomalies were found with regard to Ignatieff.