Election Signs Go Missing
Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies Liberal candidate Matt Shaw poses beside election sign on Foothills Boulevard- photo 250 News
Prince George, B.C. – Beating an incumbent in a riding that’s been Conservative blue for 43 straight years is hard enough, it’s even more difficult when your election signs go missing.
That’s the dilemma facing Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies Liberal candidate Matt Shaw.
“Well we’ve lost, as far as I can tell, approximately 70 signs,” he says. “About five days ago we put a lot of signs up along the Hart Highway, Foothills, the Chief Lake Road area, a lot of intersections, along North Nechako and went back there a couple of days ago and the signs were completely gone.”
In response he says they put up another 30 signs yesterday and they vanished too.
“Not vandalized, not taken down and thrown in the grass but completely gone.”
Does he know why? “Obviously someone didn’t like them up. From what I can tell the person who is doing it doesn’t seem to mind having the Conservative signs stay up but be that as it may there’s nothing I can really do about it.”
Shaw says the signs cost around $5 or $6 each and notes if more go missing he doubts he’ll have time to replace them before election day.
“I highly doubt I can get anymore and have them put up before the election so it’s a hit to my campaign,” he says. “I want to get my name recognized out there but in politics things happen and one has to have a bit of a thick skin and I’m not going to sweat it or cry about it.”
Shaw says he’s spoken to the police. “Simply because it’s a federal offence and it’s my duty to report what’s going on.”
Prince George RCMP Corporal Craig Douglass confirms police are investigating.
“We have received a report of a number of signs being stolen,” he says. “It’s theft, the same as shoplifting. Basically theft under $5,000.”
Douglass says criminal activity during election campaigns isn’t unusual but this latest case offers a slightly different twist.
“Usually it’s mischief, signs destroyed by kids. I don’t know if someone is targeting this one candidate or not but signs being stolen are a little more unusual.”
In the meantime, if you happen to find the signs, Shaw would love to hear from you.
“If people can keep their eyes out and if they see a pile of my signs in the garbage dump or something like that I’d really appreciate getting them back if they still exist.”
Comments
As I recall, a recent poll done by 250 News, the residents of Prince George are not influenced by election signs. I doubt the missing signs make any difference then.
The cons are running scared but they have more to fear from their own red Tories . If they don’t want to see an orange wave they’ve got to hold their collective nose and vote libs .
ampm…. Really? All the residents of PG participated in the 250 News poll? Who knew? We all know how accurate polls are.
A relative of mine in the lower mainland mentioned to me that a few large Conservative signs in Port Moody/Coquitlam got set on fire. Now that’s a statement.
very childish for whom ever is responsible. If they’re a conservative supporter (assuming b/c they have been left up), they already enjoy a strong lead in that riding. Why be so petty?
We’ve had to deal with tory blue being plastered all over our city for over a month already.
“Just not ready”
“Nice hair”
Just bieng a bully, like school yard kids.
If they truly thought their parties platform was the way to go why would they be scared of another’s party sign.
“I doubt the missing signs make any difference then.”
If the signs do not make a difference why do they get stolen? How come only the Liberal signs were removed?
I think reading a story on Matt Shaw having his signs stolen has increased his name recognition considerably. I stopped noticing signage a long time ago.
I have seen a few missing Con signs along Ospika as well.. so dont think it just the liberals that are being targetted..
Brother Gecko..if people are voting because of the signs they see then maybe they should revisit their reason for voting and do some actual research into who is going to address the concerns they have rather than liking one sign over the other because its prettier or nicer Font.
It’s happening across the country . The only ones that don’t know are the msm folks . Joe Oliver’s got cut up today . Maybe they have become trophies lining some guys man cave . Like a red Tory perhaps . This election gets funnier every day . I can’t imagine what comes next . I’d love to see Stevie’s mocking of Trudeau while imitating Quasimodo again and again . I gotta dig that up . Search Quasimodo images , you’ll see what I mean . Crazy funny .
Mr Shaw could try doing a Ryan Leef and maybe catch the thief that way.
Didn’t the poll on this website say the majority 97% of people are not influenced by these signs on the side of the road or on lawns, so why do people keep using them?
I think the signs remind most of us who we hate the most :)
Which is the bigger crime? Stealing the signs or the RIDICULOUS amount of signs they put out. Mr.Derrick in particular had signs every 10′ along Tabor Blvd. Do signs influence voters? Damn right they do. I’m not voting for Mr.Derrick :-D
If the signs do not matter I wonder why Doherty and Zimmer put up virtual forests of them more than a month ago, before anybody else? What were they thinking?
I would like to thank the NDP for sticking one at the 4way stop at Cowart road and CH Elementary. Its so big it blocks the view of kids, and the parking lot entrance. Nice planning guys, but why would we expect a smart sign placement by this gong show of a political party?
Maybe for your next sign you can block off an entire intersection or crosswalk?
See signs all over damaged, just the way it is, seen that sign wow its big alright, come on. oct 19th all will be gone.
I haven’t seen it but it must be big because PG101 can’t tell that it is a 3-way stop.
The Doherty signs go missing all the time along Foothills. I’d guess even more than the Matt Shaw ones.
Posted on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 @ 1:34 PM by reader2 with a score of 16
I think reading a story on Matt Shaw having his signs stolen has increased his name recognition considerably. I stopped noticing signage a long time ago.
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It’s an inside job. You want your name in the news? Have someone steal your signs then go running to the press.
Let me adjust my tinfoil beanie…. :)
Speaking of signs, I see Albert Koehler is still running for office according to his sign that still stands on PG Pulpmill Rd.
Theft under $5000? Well, The RCMP won’t spend that much on a frivolous investigation I hope. Hard to believe the pot heads would actually call the police and make a formal complaint.
Nothing more then legal litter, stupidity in putting signs up around schools (Domano) where the just get uprooted and turn into an eyesore
Posted on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 @ 1:47 PM by P Val
“I have seen a few missing Con signs along Ospika as well.. so dont think it just the liberals that are being targetted.. ”
I think the few missing signs on Ospika of his (Bob or Todd) were more beat up and trashed from being out there for so long, I know lots of their signs were just the metal frame left and the sign blowing around as garbage…not stolen.
I don’t need to see a sign to influence me who to vote for.
PUT up trail cameras you will catch them…more of harpers tactics……
A $300 dollar camera to watch a $2.00 sign…..there is some solid logic.
I guess its a sign of the times.
Signs? What signs!! Oh! the colourful little things that litter the side of the highways every once and awhile!!
I would expect Harper to have cops start breaking down doors looking for all the missing Con signs by implementing bill C-51.
I think all the signs are garbage… and should be disallowed anyways!
The price of coroplast is going up!
Some conservative candidates were putting 24 hour surveillance stickers on their signs to deter vandalism and theft but some people were thinking the stickers were there to remind voters they are always under constant surveillance due to bill C-51. Ha ha ha.
They could look for people with past election behaviour similar to this…
But I can tell you who it probably wasn’t. It probably wasn’t the party behind robo-calls and campaign finance finance violations.It probably wasn’t the party who violated elections rules by hiring an Australian to manage their campaign either. Probably wasn’t them…
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