Elections Canada has hired security guards in advance of this month’s byelection in Battle River-Crowfoot, candidates were told Friday.
More than 200 candidates are contesting the riding alongside Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, who is running in the riding to regain a seat in the House of Commons.
Last week, RCMP said several candidates contesting the byelection had reported receiving negative and sometimes “potentially threatening commentary” on social media platforms in recent days.
Independent candidate Sarah Spanier said she heard at the meeting that Elections Canada had seen the way people were reacting online, and that this was taken as a “preemptive measure.”
“I was actually really happy because I was taking notes through all this and I actually put two really, really big stars next to those points when they were talked about,” Spanier said.
“Because I’m like, ‘This is awesome. This is proactive behaviour.’ It acknowledges that safety is an issue for candidates.”
Spanier previously spoke out about continued harassment and personal attacks on the campaign trail, which led her to pause door knocking for a time.
Spanier had shared screenshots with CBC News of various social media comments, one of which stated that Spanier “[is] an ignorant pig and I pray [she gets] destroyed,” while another stated that should Spanier come to their door, she “will regret it.”
She had said much of the rhetoric became aggressive after she publicly stated her support of transgender people.
Citing a positive response from RCMP and no more “credible threats,” Spanier returned to the campaign trail this week.
In an email to CBC News, Elections Canada said “Canadians should be confident that they can exercise their right to vote in locations that are safe and secure.”
“Throughout the election period, returning officers work closely with landlords of polling places to discuss potential requirements, including the use of security guards. They are also in contact with local authorities throughout the election period,” the statement reads.
Of the more than 200 candidates in the riding, most are electoral reform advocates known as the Longest Ballot Committee.
WATCH | Poilievre, 9 other candidates square off in debate for seat in Alberta byelection:
Poilievre, 9 other candidates square off in debate for seat in Alberta byelection
While most candidates are part of the Longest Ballot Committee, Spanier is not. A spokesperson with the committee said while he wasn’t at the meeting, he had heard of the move to hire security guards.
The high number of candidates in the riding contributed to the move, Elections Canada said.
“Due to the number of candidates in Battle River-Crowfoot, and the potential for an unusual number of observers and media at the polling sites, security guards were hired as a precautionary measure, in case additional support is needed for tasks such as directing traffic,” Elections Canada said.
Spanier added that she was told security will be at every advanced polling station and will be present on polling day as well.
“I’m glad that they’re doing something … I just need more clarity. I’m not the only one who has faced these types of safety issues, and it’s not something new to this election, either,” Spanier said.
The campaigns of Darcy Spady, the Liberal candidate in the byelection, and independent candidate Bonnie Critchley, also attended the meeting.
Spady said it sounded as though Elections Canada had made its determination quite early on, just by the amount of “noise” the byelection was attracting from its very earliest stage.
“I would say it was less of a reaction and more of a precaution, just because of all the attention that this has been getting,” Spady said. “It’s just been a bit active, let’s just say that.”
Spady said he realizes that this election has put candidates on the national stage, and has seen even more “extra hype” added due to the presence of the Longest Ballot Committee.
“It’s a very interesting mix of not your usual three or four flavours, and factor into that the national attention,” he said.
“Frankly, I’m a bit disappointed. Battle River-Crowfoot is a nice place with pleasant people, and I’m a bit disappointed that the drum is beating loudly and people are getting amped up. I think we need to make sure we keep an orderly way about doing elections in Canada.”
A spokesperson for Poilievre didn’t respond immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. The byelection is scheduled for Aug. 18.
