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Vancouver mayoral race gets ugly with rumours abound about Gregor Robertson’s break-up

Usually, in Canada, the love lives of our politicians are out-of-bounds.

Generally, we don't hear about them on the six o'clock news and, thankfully, political rivals don't try to score political points based on their opponents' relationships, affairs or break-ups.

For whatever reason, however, things aren't going to script in the case of Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson who recently separated from his wife, Amy.

In fact — it's gotten really ugly.

Throughout the Internet — on various social media websites — there are rumours about what led to the separation.

A statement released by Vision Vancouver — the political party to which Robertson belongs — suggests that the "false rumours" are being propagated by Vision's rivals, the NPA.

On June 16, NPA Vice President Rob Macdonald sent an email to Vision Vancouver, announcing he was attending a meeting to “discuss” rumours being spread about the private lives of the Mayor and his family. (The email is appended to this release.)

“This email is a sad representation of the current state of the NPA,” says Marcella Munro, Vision Vancouver’s campaign communications director. “Instead of talking about their plans for the city, the NPA leadership has launched a campaign of personal attacks.”

Here's an excerpt from that email, as posted on reporter Bob Makin's website:

From: Rob Macdonald <rjm@macdevcorp.com>

Sent: Monday, June 16, 2014 6:14 PM
To: Gregor Robertson
Cc: Meggs, Geoff
Subject: Re: Kinder Morgan and a Broadway Subway

I don’t think I can make it. I have been asked to go to a different meeting to discuss some terrible gossip that I find very disconcerting if correct:
1) Gregor ‘s philandering;
2) Gregor’s being thrown out of his house by his wife and now moving to a condo downtown ;
3) Gregor phoning Jeff Lee at the Vancouver Sun to suppress the story;
4) Gregor’s house in Kit’s being sold for a substantial profit after the City engineered him having a quiet Street with little traffic ;

Despite the email, NPA officials state that they're not spreading rumours.

"We support the mayor's call for privacy for his family," NPA caucus chair Elizabeth Ball told Global News.

[ Related: Rob Ford hires sobriety coach after rehab ]

At least one political pundit, however, suggests that Robertson needs to provide more details.

"Gregor Robertson has an obligation to the people of Vancouver, not to hide behind the usual battalion of Vision Vancouver PR hacks, and answer any and all questions related to this story," Alex Tsakumis told Yahoo Canada News.

"Thus far, he's not done that."

The sometimes controversial Tsakumis also alleges that commentators are being encouraged to not ask the "hard questions."

"I am aware of two local reporters who have been planted with stories about me and another person asking the hard questions," he said.

"In addition, one of the Mayor's staff wrote me to suggest I seek mental help.

"Does this sound like Vision Vancouver is in a massive panic or not?"

Move over Toronto, Vancouver's mayoralty race could become even more interesting.

Vancouver voters go to the polls this November.

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