‘Unacceptable’ and ‘disgusting’ say MPs
RCMP are investigating packages containing suspected chemical irritants sent to MP offices
The Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit is investigating following the delivery of suspicious packages – containing suspected chemical irritants and highly offensive contents – that were sent to the offices of two Conservative MPs in southwestern Nova Scotia.
The MPs called the delivery of the packages to their offices 'unacceptable' and 'disgusting.'
The Barrington and Bridgewater constituency offices of South Shore-St. Margaret's MP Rick Perkins and the Yarmouth office of West Nova MP Chris d'Entremont received the packages on Feb. 7.
The Barrington RCMP were alerted shortly after 11 a.m. that a suspicious package had been received at Perkins' constituency office, located inside the Barrington Municipal Administrative Centre.
“Police learned that an employee had opened a package and began having difficulty breathing and their eyes and skin became irritated. Police secured the area until officers trained in the safe handling of irritants could attend the scene," the RCMP said in a media release. "The affected employee was transported to hospital by ambulance for decontamination and did not suffer further injury."
The packages were suspected to have contained a chemical irritant, Further testing was being conducted to identify the substance.
Perkins said the package was an 8.5 by 11 manilla envelope that had “all kinds of papers, copies of the Nuremberg trials of Nazis, German politicians and others being hung.”
“That's about as far into it as my staff member got before he started to get irritated,” said Perkins. “Probably 60 pages of stuff. It was quite thick. We didn't have a chance to see it all before the office got locked down. Now it's in the hands of investigative authorities.”
The building was closed to the public and people were asked to avoid the area. The RCMP, EHS and the Barrington Port LaTour Fire Department responded to the scene. Hazmat teams from elsewhere in the province were also dispatched.
At approximately the same time, Bridgewater Police Service responded to a complaint of a similar suspicious package having been received at Perkins' office in Bridgewater.
“Police learned that the employees were aware of the incident in Barrington Passage and no one had handled the package, nor suffered adverse effects from it. Bridgewater Police seized the package for testing,” the RCMP said.
Perkins called the delivery of the packages “terribly concerning,” calling it an attack on democracy.
“People can obviously disagree . . . not everyone shares the same point of view. That's the beauty of democracy, you can do it in a respectful way and respect the fact that people get elected. It's not about me. It's about the office I hold,” he said in an interview the day after the packages had been delivered.
“When you send these kinds of things to elected officials you're really attacking democracy. You're not attacking me personally,” he said. “It's actually quite disgusting and abhorrent that people would think it is a good thing to attack our democracy.”
The deliveries weren't only directed at Perkins' offices.
Shortly after 1 p.m. on Feb. 7, Yarmouth Town RCMP responded to a complaint of a similar suspicious package at Chris d'Entremont's constituency office in Yarmouth. The
RCMP said the package had not been opened, however, an employee who handled the package did experience skin irritation.
The employee did not require medical attention. Yarmouth Town RCMP seized the package for testing.
“We were lucky,” said d'Entremont in an interview. Perkins' assistant who had opened the package had the foresight to call and warn d'Entremont's assistant about it. “We did have the same package in our mailbox so she immediately called the RCMP and the Speakers Office to alert them as well."
The RCMP also took steps on Feb. 7 to notify all federal constituency offices in Nova Scotia about the incidents.
D'Entremont said such actions are “just another indication that people are upset, confused and disappointed with government."
"It is concerning,” he said. “It's staff that ends up opening it and staff – if something is in it – that have to deal with it. It's unacceptable on a number of levels.”
The Southwest Nova
RCMP Major Crime Unit was leading the investigations; gathering information and evidence. The investigation was being assisted by the RCMP Forensic Identification Services and the RCMP Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Unit (CBRNE).
“Our understanding is that the packages were received through the mail, but we are still trying to confirm this as part of the investigation,” RCMP Cpl. Chris Marshall said on Feb. 8. “Mail to federal constituency offices does not require stamps, so we are still working to definitively determine the mode of delivery.”
Perkins said the employee who was exposed to the irritant at his office was back on the job the day after the package had been received.
“He's a big bear of a man, my guy in Barrington. It takes a lot more than that to knock him down,” he said. “He's back at work, even though he still has some effects of his exposure to whatever the substance was.”
Perkins said everyone should be concerned that this occurred, calling it “terribly disturbing.”
“People, staff in the office of elected officials, they're just trying to help their community and help people who have challenges with the government,” the MP said.
“So for someone to send something that is an attack to them, and to harm them, is really horrible and should be a concern to every citizen who believes we have a peaceful democracy.”
Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to contact the Southwest Nova RCMP Major Crime Unit at 902-365-3160. If people want to remain anonymous they can also call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www. crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.
Halifax Regional Police were also investigating a number of suspicious envelopes that were delivered to Halifax City Hall on Feb. 7. Members from the Forensic Identification Section attended and seized a number of envelopes in relation to the investigation. There were no reports of illness or injuries.
In the days that followed, the number of politicians at all three levels of government in the province who had received these types of suspicious packages in the mail was up to two dozen.
“When you send these kinds of things to elected officials you’re really attacking democracy. You’re not attacking me personally.” Rick Perkins South Shore-St. Margaret’s MP