Niagara Centre MP says act of vandalism at community office is ‘unacceptable’

Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey has become the latest local politician to fall victim to vandalism after the glass on the front door of his community office was smashed.

It happened at Badgeway’s office in Welland at 136 East Main St. around 1:40 p.m. on Monday.

1/🧵 I will always work to do what’s right, to do my very best to carry out the responsibilities of a Member of Parliament. Today, my community office was vandalized, Unfortunate! pic.twitter.com/ILEtEy4t0k

— Vance Badawey (@VBadawey) February 14, 2022

Badawey posted a photo of the damage on Twitter that showed a hole in the lower portion of the door.

“I will always work to do what’s right, to do my very best to carry out the responsibilities of a Member of Parliament. Today, my community office was vandalized, Unfortunate!,” said Badawey in the tweet. “I will continue to stand-up and unequivocally do my duty in the best interests of the residents and businesses of Niagara Centre.”

Yesterday, a person approached the front door of my Welland office at 136 East Main Street at about 1:40 p.m. My staff were working from home because I was concerned for their safety after my office received several threatening calls and emails. /1 pic.twitter.com/WAOUzvjgm6

— Vance Badawey (@VBadawey) February 15, 2022

The incident was captured on a surveillance camera and shows a person wearing a baseball cap and hooded jacket walking up to the door and shaking it briefly before kicking through the glass.

Badawey shared the video in another tweet on Tuesday. He said no one was there when the vandalism occurred because his staff was already working from home after the office received several threatening calls and emails and he was concerned for their safety.

“Vandalism, threats, or any form of intimidation, are unacceptable and do not represent the Canada we love. We all value freedom, but not the freedom to attack, to harm, or to cause destruction. We will continue to move forward, together,” said Badawey.

Niagara police say they are investigating the incident.

Badawey is the fourth elected official from Niagara Region to be the target of vandalism in recent months.

St. Catharines mayor Walter Senszik’s vehicle was spray-painted and city councillor Karri Porter’s front window was smashed after someone threw a rock through it. Hateful messages were also spray-painted on the side of her family home.