Election Sign Thefts Impact Candidates

Emily Mailhot Reporter – Vegreville News Advertiser

A rather flummoxed Ron Malowany, Alberta Advantage Party candidate for the Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville constituency called in with a tip today after finding that some of his, as well as other candidates’ signs, had gone missing from the Mundare traffic circle. Malowany says that he is sure he saw them the night before, but noticed them gone today as he headed out for some door-to-door campaigning.

“Before, there were Alberta Party, Alberta Advantage Party, NDP Party, and United Conservative Party signs posted there.” Malowany recalled, “Today all that was left were ‘the blue ones.’”

Other candidates are to take this as a notice, if they haven’t noticed already, that their signs at that location may need to be replaced. “As soon as I noticed, I contacted Elections Alberta and the RCMP, so the authorities have been notified as well.”

Though Malowany declined to speculate as to where all but one party’s signs could have gotten off to and how, there are only a few ways they could have disappeared. It doesn’t seem as though anyone is suggesting real foul play, but it could have been a (very selective) gust of wind. Or maybe, of the many ways to bring one’s friends and neighbours around to one’s way of thinking (and voting), the hottest new tactic is “out of sight, out of mind?”

Similar thefts have occurred throughout the rural part of the constituency, with not one party seeming to be exempt.

Shannon Olsen, manager of Alberta Party Candidate Marvin Olsen’s campaign, stated, “We have not had the chance to drive the whole constituency, but as far as we know Mundare, Lamont, and Vegreville have been cleaned out, including signs on personal property. This is very disheartening to any team running in the election as it is all volunteers who are putting in their time and effort to strengthen their voice. It is unfortunate to a grassroots campaign, and we are going to move forward with our campaign and continue to spread our message of the great things and positive change the Alberta Party can bring to Albertans.””

Other campaigners have agreed on this, stating that as signs were purchased with fundraised money, the only thing they can really do now is to continue moving forward with door knocking and sign placement.

RCMP Staff Sargent Terry Hyggins, of Vegreville, pointed out that interfering with party signs, no matter the reason, is an offense. “They are property, and no matter what the purpose is, they belong to someone.”

Interfering with the signs could result in a charge of Mischief Under $5,000 (Section 430.1, Criminal Code of Canada,) and the removal/theft could earn a charge for Theft. (Section 334.1b). In the Alberta Election Act, the section regarding Right of Access for Campaigning only refers to the right to canvas at a multiple-dwelling site.

UCP candidate Jackie Homeniuk commented that she does not in any way endorse this kind of action, based on her personal belief in democracy, as well as the hard-fundraised dollars and many volunteer hours that sign distribution requires.

“I also have had signs removed, nailed to stop signs, and put on the median on the highway. In Lamont this past weekend, many of my signs were removed. I do not agree with this action, as I believe we should all be able to freely express our political view. I would hope this action would stop so that we may continue this election with proper decorum.”