Intimidation, threats, fear: B.C. civic leaders look to province for help
Behind the official agenda for the annual gathering of B.C.'s municipal officials and provincial politicians is a quiet and urgent discussion about the alarming levels of hate and harassment they're experiencing on the job.
The leader of the BC Green Party broached the subject in her remarks to the Union of BC Municipalities convention Wednesday morning, describing her own experience.
"There is a fear that has been introduced into politics that wasn’t there before," said Sonia Furstenau. "I was walking my dog in my neighbourhood and having somebody tell me I was responsible for killing children because I supported vaccines."
Some delegates told CTV News they hoped the municipal affairs minister would announce some kind of provincial support or reporting system. But while Nathan Cullen acknowledged "the public scrutiny has gotten pretty intense," he didn't make any commitments during his standing-room-only address.
CANDIDATES FLEEING LOCAL POLITICS
From emailed threats to confrontations in public places and even at their homes, municipal office-holders describe an atmosphere increasing in toxicity to the point many are not seeking reelection next month.
"It's not the reason I'm not running, but I did experience threats," revealed Fort St. John Mayor Lori Ackerman, who's spoken to many of her peers on the issue.
"Some of my colleagues made that decision (not to run) based on that, and that’s really unfortunate."
Ackerman said that in Interior and northern B.C., anti-vaccination and anti-mandate protestors have held local governments accountable for pandemic policies that rest with the provincial government, and she would've liked to see a clear explanation of roles and responsibilities.
She cited federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's experience in Alberta, as did several other elected officials.
The mayor of Squamish, who's been targeted along with three councillors by a mysterious and well-funded smear campaign, said it's had a chilling effect on the democratic process in her community.
"Trying to recruit candidates for this election was really very, very difficult. Most of them said, 'Why would I do this? Look what’s happened to you,'" said Karen Elliott. "My husband was dragged into it; it started to impact my kids."
WHAT TO DO?
Figuring out what crosses the line from a nasty tweet to criminal conduct can be difficult: an angry confrontation in a grocery store, picketing at city hall, emailing threats, and going to someone's home all have different levels of intimidation.
Several elected officials told CTV News they'd like to see a reporting process, potentially with some kind of ombudsperson or commissioner to document where the threat or intimidation occurred and the nature of it to compile statistics for year-over-year comparison. They all wanted legal advice to help determine when an interaction goes from annoyance to potential criminal conduct that should involve their local police.
"It feels like people are getting angrier and angrier, having less patience in general — with each other, with government," said Chilliwack city councillor Jason Lum. "Someone who gathers the data to measure it is going to be increasingly important."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial
New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction, finding the judge at the landmark #MeToo trial prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Metro Vancouver mayors call for serial killer Robert Pickton to be denied parole
A dozen mayors from around Metro Vancouver say federal Attorney General and Justice Minister Arif Virani should deny parole for notorious B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, and reassess the parole and sentencing system for 'prolific offenders and mass murderers.'
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.