‘Malicious’ flyers target Surrey mayoral candidate
Surrey councillor and mayoral hopeful Tom Gill reacted Sunday to flyers he described as false and malicious propaganda that had been distributed on doorsteps and posted in restaurants in recent days.
The flyers feature stock photographs and cartoon imagery that appear to depict the taking or giving of money or bribes. No information is included on the flyers that would obviously identify their creator or distributor.
Postmedia has chosen not to publish the contents of the flyers as not to distribute the unsubstantiated, vague and anonymous allegations.
“This faceless propaganda is categorically false, offensive and misrepresenting,” Gill said in a written statement. “I refer to the flyer as a ‘new political low’ as it is obvious this is a desperate, politically motivated action as we approach the fall civic elections.”
Gill, who has put forward his name as a mayoral candidate for Surrey First, has sent copies of the material to Surrey RCMP.
Gill said he would call on Elections B.C. to investigate.
“If the individuals behind the circulation of this false and malicious propaganda believe a word of what they ’re saying they should come forward immediately,” Gill said.
Andrew Watson, a spokesman with Elections B.C., said he believed his office had not been made aware of the flyers until contacted by Postmedia Sunday.
Watson said the flyers did not violate any rules under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, noting that third party advertising is only regulated during the campaign period of Sept. 22 to Oct. 20.
Questions put to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing were referred back to Elections B.C. and Surrey RCMP did not respond to a request for comment.
Bruce Hayne, a Surrey councillor, said he had first seen a photo of the flyers this past week and thought they were “underhanded and not right.”
“I think it’s very unfortunate because it’s not something that anyone can properly defend themselves against because there’s no specific allegation. It’s just low,” he said.
Surrey Councillor Mary Martin said she was very disappointed to hear such flyers were being passed around, but said she had not seen them herself.
“We work very hard as elected officials and I have always respected our constituents and I’m disappointed to hear that somebody out there is passing misinformation,” Martin said.
Mike Starchuk, who is also a Surrey councillor, said he disliked anonymity in cases of “a plain and simple unfounded attack” on someone’s character.