Sudbury city council candidate Karanbir Badesha estimates he has replaced 15 to 20 election signs since the municipal election campaign started not quite two weeks ago. On Wednesday, the Ward 8 candidate was replacing two signs on Lasalle Boulevard near Barry Downe Road. Badesha is one of five candidates running for city council in the ward. “Any time they do such acts of vandalism or something like that, it puts me back in a firm position of why I want to do this,” he said. Badesha is notified by friends and acquaintances almost daily about vandalized, missing or knocked-over election signs. He is usually the one to replace them, since his campaign volunteers are working at their day jobs. “Usually on a working day I don’t want to bug my volunteers to come help me out because they are working and they are somewhere,” he said. “In the evenings they’re available but … I have to go door knocking as well.” Each sign costs $7, so replacing so many this early in the campaign is a significant expense for an already limited campaign budget. Also running in Ward 8 are George Lalonde, Shawn Rossi, Natalie Tessier and Carla Ross-Arseneault. CTV News reached out to all four. Two responded by our deadline saying they haven’t had any issues with their election signs. Badesha said before he registered to run, he expected some resistance. “I was pretty firm -- I was ready for this when I put my name in,” he said. Despite the vandalism, Badesha said he isn’t discouraged from running for city council in a community he’s grown to love in the 12 years he’s lived in Greater Sudbury. “They have showered so much love on me over the last 12 years,” he said. “They have taken me as their own kid, and I just want to give back to the community as much as I can in any way possible.” The slogan for his election campaign is, ‘Bringing love, joy and hope to Ward 8.” Damaging signs is a criminal offence In an email to CTV News, Sudbury police said damaging or stealing election signs is a criminal offence. “While we have not received any reports of stolen or damaged election signs at this time, we recognize this can become a concern during an election period,” the email said. “Election signs are the property of candidates and campaign teams. Removing, defacing, damaging or otherwise interfering with election signs may be investigated as offences such as theft or mischief under the Criminal Code of Canada.” Candidates are encouraged to report it to police if their signs are stolen or damaged. “Reports can be submitted through our online reporting system,” police said. During the 2021 federal election, former Nickel Belt MP Belt Marc Serré reported that several of his election signs were vandalized. “People can strongly disagree with a candidate or their policies, but those differences should be expressed respectfully and through the democratic process,” Serré said in an email. “Candidates of every political viewpoint should be able to participate in an election without intimidation or damage to their property. Anyone who witnesses this type of activity should report it to the appropriate authorities.”
