Attempts at healthy debate have taken on an unhealthy tone over the proposed events centre in Nanaimo, claims a supporter of the multiplex plan.
Hours prior to the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce debate on the upcoming events centre referendum, hosted at Vancouver Island Conference Centre Tuesday, Tali Campbell, Vote Yes Committee chairman, issued a press release saying the Yes side would not show up.
Campbell cited concerns over personal safety and fairness and a death threat allegedly made against him Feb. 9, which was reported to the RCMP, “constant harassment online and in public by No supporters.”
Campbell said he was most recently verbally accosted at the Rogers Hometown Hockey event on the weekend.
“I like a debate,” Campbell said. “I think it’s healthy for the conversation of anything, whether it’s the event centre, who the new mayor’s going to be, whatever it might be, but this has got nasty. If anything this is dividing our community way too much and it’s sad.”
In response to Campbell’s press release, Gord Fuller, Nanaimo city councillor, said in a social media post Tuesday, “Can’t say as I blame them. Had someone threaten to burn my house down; told them I have insurance and walked away. This is by far the most nasty campaign have seen and I have been a part of many such oppositions to the city on numerous issues; never have I seen anything like this.”
Campbell said the attacks are coming from No supporters, not the No Vote 2017 society members, who he said are also simply volunteers and have also faced harassment.
Don Bonner, spokesman for No Vote 2017, said he was not concerned about security issues at Tuesday’s event and the debate is no more heated than with previous community issues.
Bonner said some No Vote 2017 committee members have had some pro-event centre supporters get hot under the collar, but nothing considered a threat. Event centre information events have been well-attended by supporters of both sides of the issue, who have been polite and the few posts online that became insulting were simply deleted, he said.
“We’ve had some people who’ve been more vocal than others, but I don’t know anybody who thinks they’ve actually been threatened to the point where they’ve felt they’ve had to report it. Never has anything come up at any of these events where anybody would be concerned about,” Bonner said.
Nanimo RCMP is not commenting on the death threat allegedly made to Campbell, but Const. Gary O’Brien said the file is closed.
“Police were contacted,” O’Brien said. “For privacy reasons we are unable make any comment as whether there was any allegations of threats made.”