In the Vancouver suburb of Port Coquitlam, about 30 kilometres east of Vancouver, a man allegedly became so upset over a bylaw issue he threatened to cause death or bodily harm to Mayor Brad West.
West, who was not involved with the bylaw, claims the man also threatened his wife and two young children.
“My son is five years old, my other son is 15 months old. They have nothing to do with anything that might ever be going on in the city,” said West.
“There is nothing more important to me in this world than my wife and my two young boys. And my first responsibility is to love and protect them. So I took that really seriously.”
Coquitlam RCMP says the man, William Arthur Jones, was arrested and a replica gun was seized. Jones was charged with one count of uttering threats, according to the B.C. Prosecution Service. Last week, he pled guilty.
West’s experience is one example of the growing wave of harassment, both in-person and online, that municipal and provincial officials say they are facing.
Over the past two years, Squamish Mayor Karen Elliott says a well-funded, anonymous social media campaign has targeted her office, spreading misinformation.
At this year’s Union of B.C. Municipalities, the issue of politicians dealing with threats and harassment in-person and over social media was a common theme. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
People have walked up to her and screamed in her face, and yelled at her from their vehicles while she’s walking with her child, she says.
While the harassment isn’t the primary reason she’s leaving office — which she has held for eight years — it has played a role, she says.
“I would say my family is not sad to see me stepping back,” said Elliott.
What’s more terrifying, she adds, is how it has discouraged others from seeking a role in municipal politics.
“I asked a number of women over the last 18 months to consider running for council and the answer I got was, ‘Look what’s happening to you. Why would I do that?”
‘There is a fear … that wasn’t there before’
Provincial officials are no strangers to the blurred lines of criticism and harassment either.
B.C. Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau recalls how she was once followed by a man in a car while walking her dog, telling her she was responsible for killing children because she supports the COVID-19 vaccine.
“There is a fear that has been introduced into politics that wasn’t there before,” she said.
WATCH | Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland harassed in Alberta
Alberta man hurls profanity at Chrystia Freeland, sparking social media outrage
19 days ago
Duration 2:32
In a video circulating widely on social media, several people are seen approaching Freeland as she walks through Grande Prairie’s city hall toward an elevator.
On another occasion, she says, her constituency office was stormed by a group of people who demanded to see her, leaving staff scared and uncomfortable in their workplace.
“There really should not be a tolerance for bullying harassment or intimidation of elected officials or media,” she said. “We need a system where people can feel assured they are safe doing their work.”
The harassment can also target the loved ones of politicians. When Premier John Horgan posted a family photo on social media, he says the comments section was quickly filled with “venom.”
“Completely unrelated to anything other than, ‘Here’s an opportunity to say to John Horgan and anyone that’s associated with him that I hate you and everything about you,'” he said.
Horgan says he understands people are angry and frustrated, but that shouldn’t give way to toxicity. He admits he’s heard from many elected officials who have decided to call it quits due to the abuse.
B.C. Premier John Horgan says the level of harassment elected officials face is concerning. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
“For those who are leaving because of that contempt, I hope they would reflect instead on the countless number of people who are just getting on with their lives and saying, ‘I’m glad you’re doing that because someone has to.'”
All politicians CBC spoke to for this story say addressing the abuse, not simply brushing it aside and accepting it as part of the job, is key.
In a statement, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs said there is no place for intimidation or threats to elected officials or any member of the public, and any threatening or potentially violent behaviour should be reported to local police.
FREDERICTON – A look at David Coon, leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick:
Born: Oct. 28, 1956.
Early years: Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, he spent about three decades as an environmental advocate.
Education: A trained biologist, he graduated with a bachelor of science from McGill University in Montreal in 1978.
Family: He and his wife Janice Harvey have two daughters, Caroline and Laura.
Before politics: Worked as an environmental educator, organizer, activist and manager for 33 years, mainly with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.
Politics: Joined the Green Party of Canada in May 2006 and was elected leader of the New Brunswick Green Party in September 2012. Won a seat in the legislature in 2014 — a first for the province’s Greens.
Quote: “It was despicable. He’s clearly decided to take the low road in this campaign, to adopt some Trump-lite fearmongering.” — David Coon on Sept. 12, 2024, reacting to Blaine Higgs’s claim that the federal government had decided to send 4,600 asylum seekers to New Brunswick.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
FREDERICTON – A look at Blaine Higgs, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.
Born: March 1, 1954.
Early years: The son of a customs officer, he grew up in Forest City, N.B., near the Canada-U.S. border.
Education: Graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1977.
Family: Married his high-school sweetheart, Marcia, and settled in Saint John, N.B., where they had four daughters: Lindsey, Laura, Sarah and Rachel.
Before politics: Hired by Irving Oil a week after he graduated from university and was eventually promoted to director of distribution. Worked for 33 years at the company.
Politics: Elected to the legislature in 2010 and later served as finance minister under former Progressive Conservative Premier David Alward. Elected Tory leader in 2016 and has been premier since 2018.
Quote: “I’ve always felt parents should play the main role in raising children. No one is denying gender diversity is real. But we need to figure out how to manage it.” — Blaine Higgs in a year-end interview in 2023, explaining changes to school policies about gender identity.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
OTTAWA – The pressing issues of climate change and food security join more familiar ones like violent extremism and espionage on a new list of Canada’s intelligence priorities.
The federal government says publishing the list of priorities for the first time is an important step toward greater transparency.
The government revises the priorities every two years, based on recommendations from the national security adviser and the intelligence community.
Once the priorities are reviewed and approved by the federal cabinet, key ministers issue directives to federal agencies that produce intelligence.
Among the priorities are the security of global health, food, water and biodiversity, as well as the issues of climate change and global sustainability.
The new list also includes foreign interference and malign influence, cyberthreats, infrastructure security, Arctic sovereignty, border integrity and transnational organized crime.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
