Many candidates complain of dirty tricks

The Hill Times:

Some political insiders say an especially confrontational Parliament recently and this election's nasty tone may have opened the door to what some are saying is a higher level of election-related vandalism and dirty tricks during this campaign.

In St. Paul's, Ont., Liberal incumbent Carolyn Bennett told The Hill Times last week that there were 40 incidents in the riding of homeowners who were known Liberals or had Liberal signs on their or their neighbours' lawns who had their car tires slashed, lug nuts loosened, or car panels keyed over three nights during the Easter weekend.

Ten Liberal campaigns in Ontario, including Ms. Bennett's, also complained of harassing phone calls made to their supporters purporting to be from them when they were not. Some were in the middle of the night or made repeatedly.

The Green Party has said the same sort of bogus calls happened in the 2008 federal election in Saanich-Gulf Islands, B.C. More than a dozen Liberal supporters also had their brake lines cut in Ms. Bennett's St. Paul's riding and nearby Parkdale-High Park, Ont., during the same election.

But Ms. Bennett said this election's vandalism is worse. In 2008, perpetrators hit two ridings and this time three, she said. There were about 20 incidents in one night last time, whereas this time she tallied 40 incidents in her riding over three nights (police have reported 19 damaged autos in her riding and six in nearby Trinity-Spadina, Ont.).

"There was one family that was actually attacked three nights in a row [this time]," she said. "Some people ended up with their lives at risk. One family ended up on the 401, not realizing all four of their tires had been punctured. Another family had lug nuts removed from their tires."

Toronto Centre Liberal incumbent candidate Bob Rae reported that one of his car tires was slashed.

While stolen or defaced signs is an unfortunately usual occurrence in some election campaigns, this vandalism is unique because it's violent, personal and ugly said Ms. Bennett's campaign manager Lynne Steele.

"It's true intimidation," she said. "It is voter suppression of the worst kind."

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