Allyson Beauregard & Peter Smith
MRC PONTIAC – In addition to the unusually high number of contested seats in this month’s municipal elections, a surprising report of candidate intimidation and harassment in at least three instances was made in two municipalities.
Allyson Beauregard & Peter Smith
MRC PONTIAC – In addition to the unusually high number of contested seats in this month’s municipal elections, a surprising report of candidate intimidation and harassment in at least three instances was made in two municipalities.
Shortly after the nomination period opened, two residents of L’Isle-aux-Allumettes received phone threats telling them to recant their candidatures or they would face “consequences”. One withdrew his name the following day, concerned for damage being done to his property, while the second chose to continue seeking
election.
A report was made to the Sûreté du Québec; the incident being is under investigation and the names of the candidates and the nature of the threats cannot be disclosed. All seven seats were contested in this municipality.
In Ile-du-Grand-Calumet, where five seats were contested, there were instances of broken campaign signs, as well as racist comments sent via text message.
“I could understand if I was receiving backlash based on some of my ideas, but [racism] isn’t something I expected in 2017,” said candidate Elie James Azola Moankong, who was unable to identify the source of the messages. He is positive the situation is election-related: “I never received anything before the election period, and the messages stopped after the advance polls.”
Moankong opted not to file an official complaint.
