Two Ottawa candidates in the provincial election have had multiple signs defaced and destroyed within the last week.
Ontario Vanier Liberal candidate Lucille Collard says at least five of her signs were damaged and it cost hundreds of dollars to replace.
“I really felt insulted just because this is not democracy,” said Collard. “That’s not what we want an election campaign to be like.”
One sign had a mustache written over her face and another had graffiti.
“We know that there is division in the community, but it’s not a reason to be disrespectful,” she said.
It’s an experience shared by Kanata-Carleton NDP candidate Melissa Coenraad.
“There was two in Constance Bay and then two on Saturday in Fitzroy,” she said.
Coenraad said one of her election signs had ‘witch’ written on it and another had graffiti, with horns drawn over her head.
“When there’s any sort of election sign vandalism it’s always disheartening to hear, but it’s especially disheartening to hear when it appears to be gender-based,” Coenraad said.
Election sign interference is also happening in the GTA.
Two employees in Brampton were caught on camera this week tearing down Liberal election signs. The pair used a company vehicle to vandalize and steal the signs.
“It is very serious,” said Nour El-Kadri, a University of Ottawa professor. “It’s just like stealing others property and in elections, those signs are the properties of the candidates that are running.”
Ottawa police are warning that damaging or interfering with election signs is a criminal offense and is also an offense with the Canada Elections Act.