The downtown Lindsay constituency office of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP and Minister of Labour Laurie Scott was vandalized during a break-in on Tuesday night (October 23).
Vandals smashed the glass in the front door and a large plate glass window, overturned furniture, and used a fire extinguisher to damage items inside the office.
The City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service was notified of the vandalism at around 11:30 p.m., but the suspects had fled before police arrived.
The vandals also spray painted a message an outside wall, which reads “Attack Workers We Fight Back $15.”
The vandalism, which is estimated at $15,000, occurred on the same day the Ford government introduced legislation to freeze the minimum wage at $14 an hour, and to roll back several other labour reforms announced the previous Liberal government.
Speaking to reporters in Toronto earlier today (October 24) in a media scrum alongside Scott, Government House Leader Todd Smith said “We all know there are going to be sensitive times ahead, but this crossed the line.”
Last night in Kawartha Lakes, the constituency office of Minister of Labour Laurie Scott was broken into and vandalized. These actions have no place in our democracy. Thank you to the local police officers and the OPP, who are now investigating this very serious incident.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) October 24, 2018
Smith then accused the minimum wage advocacy group $15 & Fairness of being behind the attack, without providing any evidence.
“What we want to see now Fifteen and Fairness and some of these other radical groups to acknowledge the fact that a line has been crossed here, that they’ve gone too far, that this will not be acceptable,” he said.
“This is obviously tied into the piece of legislation that we introduced yesterday,” Scott added, referring to the graffiti on the wall of her office.
“This type of vandalism, crossing the line, is not going to be accepted by anyone. I need to protect the workers in our office from this intimidation and bullying. I believe in democratic and peaceful protest and debate, but we will not tolerate vandalism, intimidation, or bullying.”
After Scott pointed out she doesn’t know who is behind the vandalism, but police are investigating, Smith again referred to the $15 & Fairness group, which held a protest at Queen’s Park on Tuesday. He implied the act was related to a union leader who called Ford “an enemy of workers” and then said “Wait and see” when asked what further steps the group would take.
Smith also said Premier Doug Ford and Economic Development Minister Jim Wilson have each received death threats after the legislation was introduced.
The Ford government announced Tuesday it would repeal portions of the previous government’s Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act. Under the changes introduced on Tuesday, the current minimum wage will remain at $14 an hour until 2020, and will eliminate the guaranteed two paid sick days for Ontario workers.
Many business organizations welcomed the changes, arguing the original provisions would have forced them to raise prices and reduce staff. Labour groups said the changes are “mean-spirited and reckless” and are unfair to workers.
The City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service Criminal Investigation Branch is investigating the vandalism and asks that anyone with information about the incident contact Detective Sergeant Kirk Robertson at krobertson@klps.ca or 705-324-5252, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or at www.khcs.ca.
