Liberal operatives planted 'stop the steal' buttons at conservative conference

Two Liberal Party staffers attended last week's Canada Strong and Free Networking (CSFN) Conference where they planted buttons that used Trump-style language and highlighted division within the Conservative Party.

The conference, often referred to by its former name, the Manning Conference, is an opportunity for conservative-leaning Canadians to talk about policy proposals and network. It was held at the Westin Hotel in downtown Ottawa.

Some attendees noticed buttons appearing at the event.

One said "stop the steal" — an apparent reference to Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the result of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

The Liberal Party of Canada has sought to tie Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to the American president in speeches and ads. Some Conservative supporters have expressed skepticism about polling numbers that put the Liberals ahead.

Another button had the name "Jenni Byrne" crossed out, with the name "Kory Teneycke" underneath. Byrne is the national campaign director for the Conservative Party of Canada. 

Teneycke is a longtime Conservative strategist, who played a key role in Ontario Premier Doug Ford's re-election campaign. He has been deeply critical of the Conservative Party of Canada's campaign to date.

The buttons were scattered in the event space in a way to give the impression that they were made and left by people attending the conference.

In fact, the idea came from the Liberal war room.

Buttons planted by 2 staffers

On Friday night, in two Ottawa bars, campaign workers shared how the party was behind this move — two Liberal Party staffers attended the conference intended for conservatives and placed these buttons in areas where attendees would find them.

At the pub D'Arcy McGee's near Parliament Hill, a number of Liberal war room staffers met for drinks on the far side of the bar. This journalist joined one of them for a quick conversation, but heard another staffer, who had previously identified himself as being involved in opposition research, describing how he and a colleague planted the buttons.

The staffer knew he was sitting next to a journalist. 

When confronted, the staffer at first confirmed what he'd done. But he then denied saying anything when told that CBC News would be reporting on the operation.

A Conservative source overheard the other conversation.

The Liberal Party said Sunday evening that some campaigners "regrettably got carried away" with the use of buttons "poking fun" at reports of Conservative infighting.

Liberal spokesperson Kevin Lemkay said the party has conducted a review of the matter and that leader Mark Carney had made it clear "this does not fit his commitment to serious and positive discourse."

"It's unfortunate, but not surprising that the Liberals would seek to misrepresent the views of attendees of our conference," said CSFN spokesperson Alex Spence in a statement.

"These divisive, gimmicky tactics say more about the Liberals than they do of the united and growing Conservative movement."

Sources told CBC News that people working on the Poilievre campaign were instructed not to attend the conference, and instead be out door-knocking.

"Despite their public claims, it's clear that it's the Liberals who are attempting to bring American-style politics to our country," said Conservative Party of Canada spokesperson Sam Lilly in a statement.

"One wonders what other dirty tricks the Liberals are behind as they desperately seek to distract from their disastrous record while seeking a fourth Liberal term."