KW election briefs

Illegally placed campaign signs removed by city

According to the Waterloo Chronicle, the Region of Waterloo had to contact local Member of Parliament (MP) candidates regarding the illegal placement of campaign signs last week. Director of protective services Jim Barry did not mention the party campaign represented by these illegally placed signs, but reiterated that signs are not allowed on public property, such as boulevards or medians of city streets.

Residents seem to have expressed the opinion that they are not happy with campaign signs taking over the city’s property.

According to Green Party candidate Cathy MacLellan, the region’s bylaws that govern the size and placement of the signs should be simplified. There have been numerous problems with signs being vandalized, stolen and being placed in areas that do not fit the guidelines.

Peter Braid, the Conservative Party candidate and current MP for Kitchener-Waterloo had 1,400 signs installed around the region, seven of which were removed due to complaints by the public, though they had been placed legally on regional roads. Some of Braid’s signs have also been vandalized or stolen.

It was also reported that three Liberal Party signs were removed and had been delivered to Braids office. Volunteers who were aware of the damaged signs have been contacting Braid and have now reported it to the police. All parties appear to be communicating the vandalizing or moving of campaign signs, though there is still some speculation as to the illegal placement of campaign signs.

Stephen Woodworth apologizes for Tweet

On April 10, Kitchener Centre Conservative Party candidate Stephen Woodworth posted a questionable Tweet that led to the de-activation of his account the following day.

What Woodworth said was meant as a joke, but came across as an offensive comment that seemed to be mocking the disabled community. Woodworth soon realized his mistake and apologized through a Tweet soon after.

Peter Thurley, NDP candidate for Kitchener Centre, told the Waterloo Region Record that he was disappointed in Woodworth and his choice to make a joke of that nature in such a public environment.

It wasn’t stated that the de-activation of Woodworth’s account was due to the comments or his busy schedule. Mary Thorne, a campaign spokesperson, said that she is unsure of whether or not Woodworth will continue to use Twitter but that it has been time consuming for him.

Election results could be a close call

The key ridings of Kitchener-Waterloo and Kitchener Centre, who’s current MPs are both members of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) were recently characterized as leaning towards the Conservatives once again.

However, the Laurier Institute for the Study of Public Opinion Policy (LISPOP) has now labeled them “too close to call.” In order for the Conservatives to form a majority government, they have to win both of these ridings.

Provincially, the CPC now have 41 per cent of support, a one per cent drop from the previous 42 per cent. The Liberal Party is now at 33.5 per cent, which is a 1.5 per cent increase. Events occurring during the election campaign haven’t seemed to sway the opinion of voters, as no major change in the public’s opinion has occurred in weeks. A series of opinion poles had been taken between Mar. 28 and April 2 with a two percent error rate.

Based on the results of the poll, the final election results according to the LISPOP projection stands at 150 Conservative seats, 74 for the Liberals, 33 for New Democrats and 51 for Bloc Quebecois nationally.