Sask. NDP investigating breach of voter list and info

The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party is investigating a breach of its private voter database.

Party executive and volunteer Rylee Schumacher admits using the party’s database, Populus, to look up the name of the Saskatoon police detective looking after her sexual assault case.

Last year, Schumacher accused a former provincial NDP candidate of rape.

“I had never been told that looking at someone’s name or typing in someone’s name was against any kind of rule,” Schumacher said.

“If I had looked her up and find out her address and knocked on her door, then absolutely I would be in the wrong. But I didn’t doing anything with the information, I typed her name into Populus.”

Schumacher said she was told the breach happened sometime between August 2017 and Jan. 8 2018.

Populus is a database that contains information to help political parties with campaign and other “get out the vote” efforts.

John Tzupa, the NDP’s provincial secretary, said access is granted to campaign workers, some campaign volunteers and then some individuals who are involved with their local constituency associations.

“We use it to keep organized for running elections, communicating with voters, keeping track of party memberships, sign locations and volunteers,” explained John Tzupa, the NDP’s provincial secretary.

Tzupa confirmed the investigation is underway and that it was started following a complaint from an individual. He wouldn’t provide any further information, except to say he hopes to have the matter resolved quickly.

Schumacher wonders whether she is being targeted because of the sexual assault case she made public.

Saskatoon police have not laid charges in Schumacher’s case.