Female candidates' campaign signs vandalized in N.W.T.

Women seeking political office in Yellowknife say there are still barriers to overcome, after several female candidates' election signs were damaged or stolen this week.

Marie-Soleil Lacoursiere, who's running for Yellowknife city council in the upcoming municipal election, says someone drew sexualized images and words on one of her campaign signs earlier this week.

"When my friend saw the vandalism first, they told me they were really blown away. They were really shocked at how obscene the vandalism was on my sign in particular."

In a Facebook post, Lacourseiere said the vandalism has nothing to do with leadership or policy, "and far too much to do with being a woman."

"We can't expect the level of female leaders to improve if young women are constantly discouraged by incidents like this," she said in the post.

City councillor Linda Bussey, who is running for re-election, had two of her campaign signs stolen. Another sign was vandalized, with the "B" in her last name covered with a "P."

"I find it very sad in this time and age that we have to go through this again. It says a lot," Bussey says.

"It makes you think about how things still need to be addressed and awareness needs to be at the forefront. We shouldn't be victims of this defacing."

'It definitely doesn't help women get elected'

Rebecca Alty, another city councillor seeking an additional term, also had her signs defaced this week. She says she doesn't take it personally, nor does she think it's a political statement — pointing to the fact that male candidates have also had their signs vandalized.

"I don't think it's somebody being like, 'This woman isn't a good candidate or this woman shouldn't be elected to office.' But it definitely doesn't help women get elected," Alty adds.

"If somebody's sign is actually destroyed, that means one less sign out there, less publicity… it's frustrating."

Julie Green, who's running for MLA in the territorial election, agrees, saying it's important women don't get discouraged from running for office.

"When it comes to issues like domestic violence, sexual assault, childcare and so on, it's less likely that a man will talk about those issues than it is a woman," Green says.

Polling data consistently demonstrates women care about different issues than men, according to Equal Voice, a national organization that works to get more women elected to political office in Canada.

The United Nations has also emphasized that equal decision-making is essential to the empowerment of women, and a critical mass is needed before governments make public policy that represents women's concerns, its website notes.

Federal offence

It's a federal offence to destroy election signs and can lead to $5,000 in fines or up to two years in jail.

"It's something we can investigate, but without witnesses, and evidence, and videos, there's not much we can do," says RCMP Constable Elenore Sturko.

"It seems like it might be someone trying to be funny, but obviously if this is your campaign poster, that's damage to their property."