Elections commissioner clears Freeland on tweets labelled 'manipulated media' by Twitter

Canada's elections commissioner has cleared incumbent Liberal candidate Chrystia Freeland over her campaign tweets targeting Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole that were later labelled "manipulated media" by Twitter.

CBC News obtained a letter on Wednesday evening signed by Mylne Girou,senior director, enforcement at the office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections,sent via email to Freeland, who served as deputy prime minister in Justin Trudeau's government.

"Our Office has carefully reviewed the Twitter post and video in question and we are of the view that no offence has been committed under the [Canada Elections] Act," the letter says in closing."As a result, our file is now closed."

The tweets in questionposted by Freelandon Aug. 22 in English and Frenchcontainededited video footage of O'Toolequickly responding "yes"to a question about whether he would bring private, "for-profit" health care to Canada.

The tweeted clip did not include O'Toole'sfull answer in the original recording, in which the Conservative leadernoted that universal access remains paramount.

Twitter caused a stirin the federal election campaign when it suddenly slappedawarning label onthe tweets The Conservative Party filed a complaint toCommissioner of Canada Elections Yves Cote askinghis office to investigate whether the tweets violated the Elections Act.

The Conservatives alsoaccused the Liberals of spreadingmisinformation and resorting to "American-style divisive politics" withFreeland's tweets.

The Commissioner of Canada Elections is the independent officer responsible for ensuring compliance with and enforcement ofthe Elections Actand theReferendum Act.