Voter lists should not be released, says mayoral candidate Gondek

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The prospect of a mayoral candidate charged with hate and assault offences being granted information on every Calgary voter should halt that data being given to any municipal election hopeful, says one of those running.

Elections Calgary should not provide a database that includes voter names, addresses and phone numbers, given the current reality they’ll be provided in September to Kevin J. Johnston, who’s not only been charged with assault and hate crimes but has threatened Alberta Health Services staff, Jyoti Gondek said Monday.

“We are faced with a dangerous prospect in this municipal election,” said Coun. Gondek, who, along with Johnston, is vying for the mayor’s post.

“A candidate who has threatened violence against AHS will be given a voter list with Calgarians’ home addresses and phone numbers. We must band together and ask Elections Calgary NOT to release voter lists to anyone.”

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Gondek made the comments the same day a CBC story noted Johnston and other candidates would be given access to the lists the day after nominations for the election close in September.

That information on 800,000 voters is used by candidates to build relationships with voters and operate campaigns “more efficiently,” she said.

Johnston has said he’d publicly share the information of select AHS staffers.

The outspoken far-right activist opposed to COVID-19 restrictions was charged in 2017 with hate crimes in Ontario and more recently with allegedly assaulting a grocery store employee in Dawson Creek, B.C., after being ejected for refusing to wear a mask in March.

He’s expressed outrage over city police arresting Artur and Dawid Pawlowski for allegedly breaching COVID-19 public health restrictions at their southeast church and has vowed to harass AHS employees.

“Your comfortable little lives are going to be very uncomfortable so long as I’m in Alberta, and that’s going to be a very long time,” Johnston said in a recent video posted online.

“We’re going to track down these AHS people … we’ve got seven of your home addresses so far.”

In a radio webcast, Johnston said of AHS inspectors who set foot on alleged health restriction violators’ property “the day I’m mayor of Calgary … I’ll arm myself and I’ll come right to your doors and I’ll come to get you because you’re not getting away with any of this.”

Gondek said while the Local Authorities Elections Act lacks the power to prohibit people from running for office, Alberta’s municipal affairs minister could possibly step in to disqualify certain candidates.

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“The bigger problem isn’t the list, it’s the candidate because this is the first time this problem has been flagged, it’s never been a question until this one person (Johnston),” said Gondek.

“We cannot open the door to violence and must suspend the release of voter lists.”

She said withholding the voter list would make campaigning more difficult but that protecting Calgarians is more important.

“He’ll go after anyone he doesn’t agree with … we’ve got concerned city employees,” said the city councillor.

Calgary police have also raised concerns voter information could lead to the harassment of their personnel.

“Like any member of the public, members of the judicial system and law enforcement community should have a reasonable expectation of privacy, and not subject to harassment or retaliation,” the Calgary Police Service said in a statement.

It’s not clear if the bylaw that provided candidates the list in 2017 applies to this year’s election, or the extent of voter information in them, added Gondek.

It’s also uncertain what power the provincial government has in disqualifying or limiting candidates, but Johnston’s presence on the ballot might require it, said Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

“When you have a candidate facing charges of violent assault and who’s openly threatening people, you have to look out for the safety of citizens and of other candidates,” he said.

And Nenshi said withholding voter information for all candidates should be considered “given the heightened tensions in political discourse right now.”

During Monday’s city council meeting, Coun. Druh Farrell raised the question of holding back the list citing “extremists” and was told by the city solicitor it’s unclear if that could be done.

— With files from Madeline Smith

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

on Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn