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By Brian Konrad

Possible collateral damage

Loud protesters may sway support away from their cause, says MHC political science instructor

Aug 31, 2021 | 12:23 PM

MEDICINE HAT — A Medicine Hat political science instructor says recent protests at campaign events featuring Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau may result in collateral damage to other federal parties.

Jim Groom says legitimate protest is part of democracy, but should not exceed to the point of becoming harassment.

Groom says if you want your voice heard, you really need to hear the other person’s voice too, and simply drowning out the other candidate is not part of the democratic process.

Even though the leaders of both the Conservatives and NDP have denounced the weekend protests that prompted cancellation of one event, Groom thinks voters may still be swayed by the association with the protesters.

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“What happens is, we try to affiliate those folks with one party or the other, depending on the protest they’re doing,” says Groom.

“If we find that objectionable, and we link it to the Conservative party in this case, then that can turn us against the Conservative party,” explains Groom.

Even though Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole condemned those protesters, Groom says people tend to get tarred with the same brush and it does sway the electorate against the protesters and those parties seen as supporting the protestors.

Several Liberal campaign events with Trudeau were targeted in southern Ontario on Friday, with protesters shouting vulgar comments at volunteers and carrying anti-Trudeau signs scrawled with obscenities.

One rally was cancelled because organizers said they could not assure the safety of those in attendance.