Voters never gonna give him up? Can London, Ont.'s Van Meerbergen 'Rickroll' to re-election?
Fair tactics, dirty politics or just an election prank?
Ward 10 incumbent in London, Ont., Paul Van Meerbergen confirms that he no longer controls the website address listed on some of his election signs.
Instead, voters who go to paulvanmeerbergen.ca are ‘Rickrolled,’ an internet prank that unexpectedly redirects the viewer to the music video for the 1987 song ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ by singer Rick Astley.
The video has over 1.2 billion views on YouTube generated by Rickrolling since 2007.
Van Meerbergen says the situation has temporarily left him without a critical election tool.
“I think there is an expectation that you come into an election with a website, that the information is there,” he told CTV News.
Van Meerbergen admits he did not renew the registration of his web address when it came due — only to discover someone has anonymously purchased the URL for the next four years.
“Hate to admit that when I heard this story I laughed a little bit,” said technology expert Carmi Levy.
Levy points out that the damage caused to the incumbent councillor’s campaign could have been much worse if the address was used to damage Van Meerbergen’s reputation or it was held for ransom.
“Politicians should know that when you have a website and are using that website as part of your campaign, make sure that the registration for that domain doesn’t lapse,” he advised.
The timing of the registration suggests it’s more than a prank.
An online search reveals the web address was anonymously registered on Aug. 20, just three days after Van Meerbergen filed his papers to seek re-election.
Van Meerbergen said he has registered a new website address, pvanmeerbergen.ca and has started updating his old signs with the new URL.
“It’s very important and we expect it will be live in three days or so,” he said.
Advance polls open in less than two weeks.
Levy said getting an online campaign presence up and running should be a priority for all politicians.
“It is 2022 and if you are going to engage in politics, you are going to have to have a digital presence whether you like it or not,” he said. “That means websites, a social [media] presence, email and other things to meet people in the digital space where they live.”
The other candidates in Ward 10 are Claire Grant, John Kuypers, Kevin May and Michael McMullen.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.