Political signs damaged in Halifax

WATCH ABOVE: It’s a sad reality in every election campaign; vandalism and damage to campaign signs. The latest happened to conservative candidate, Irvine Carvery, but all three candidates have been victims. Global’s Ray Bradshaw reports.

HALIFAX – It’s a sad reality in every election campaign – vandalism and damage to campaign signs. It’s no different during this campaign and the most recent reports come from the hotly contested Halifax riding. The latest happened to the Conservative candidate, Irvine Carvery, but all three candidates have been victims.

Irvine Carvery said he was disappointed to see two of his signs knocked down in his own neighbourhood, just off Gottingen St. in the Halifax riding. The Conservative candidate said it’s sad to see vandalism like this.

“It’s quite disappointing,” said Carvery. “My son called me early this morning notifying me that my signs had been torn down here and this is after having lost eight lawn signs that just disappeared.”

But Carvery isn’t alone. Megan Leslie, the NDP candidate who has served two terms as the MP for Halifax, has had similar problems.

“We have a problem every election,” said Leslie. “This election I think we’ve lost or had signs damaged to the tune of a hundred signs – so a hundred signs either lost or damaged.”

The Liberal candidate Andy Fillmore also reported damage. “We’ve had some of large four-foot square signs – as many as five of those – completely destroyed. Many of the other two-foot square signs have gone missing.”

While Carvery and Leslie both said a lot of it is mischief, Fillmore said there’s a lot at stake in this election. “Unfortunately some of that enthusiasm is being expressed through negative means and that is destroying signs,” said Fillmore.

Carvery said he found one sign that was slashed with a knife and thrown into a field, but he was really discouraged when we pointed out to him another sign that was defaced with vulgar language.

“Wow. This is unbelievable,” said Carvery. “Like why would you want to put this stuff on my signs?”

Leslie also had discouraging remarks written on her signs – some too nasty to display to the public.

Damaging signs affects many people, including the volunteers who have to put them back up, the financial cost to candidates. People found vandalizing signs could also be charged by police.

“Any property that is rendered damaged or rendered useless, is considered mischief and the property owner can contact police and we will investigate,” said Constable Diane Woodworth, Halifax Regional Police

Leslie said the NDP will wait to put up some signs, for fear they’ll be damaged. “We’re holding back until after frosh week because we suspect that there will be a lot of mischief to be made in that week,” said Leslie.

Fillmore noted, “It’s everybody’s right to express their political beliefs and the best way to do that of course is at the ballot box.”

The election takes place October 19th.