City crews are in for some extra work this federal election campaign as vandals are slapping stickers on stop signs throughout the City of Calgary, turning them into messages against PM Stephen Harper.
A Vancouver website is distributing the stickers, and that’s prompting people to turn stop signs into ‘Stop Harper signs’.
The act seems to be the brainchild of a grassroots movement, but there is some question about whether or not it’s being orchestrated by the opposition.
However, candidates for the Liberals and NDP deny having anything to do with the sticky situation. They also want to tell the people behind the acts of vandalism that it’s the wrong way to make a point.
“I agree with the message, obviously, but I don’t agree with the tactics they are using to get that message across,” said Jillian Ratti, the NDP candidate for Calgary-Centre.
“Look, there’s shirts out there with ‘Stop Harper’ messages. If you want to get a t-shirt, that’s fine, but this is not an approved method of campaigning,” said Calgary-Centre Liberal candidate Kent Hehr. “Political parties do not approve of this method of campaigning.”
Officials with the City of Calgary say they’ve only gotten four complaints of defaced stop signs.
The stickers aren’t permanent, but it’s still considered to be a form of graffiti.
Anyone caught sticking anything to the signs could be given a fine of up to $5,000 for adults and $1,000 for anyone under 18.
