In the final stretch of the civic election campaign, some council candidates say they are dealing with incivility -- from the public, including incidents of racism, bigotry and sexist remarks. In some wards, there’s only one female candidate running, and some of them say they’ve encountered hostility. Other candidates say they’re dealing with racist remarks. During a recent Calgary Chamber of Commerce debate, mayoral candidate Sonya Sharp stopped mid-speech to address a heckler. Both she and the moderator called it rude. In Ward 10, Tarlochan Singh Sidhu has faced a barrage of racist comments online. In Ward 5, Reet Mushiana’s sign has been vandalized. Mushiana says she’s been asked why her husband isn’t running for office instead. Heather McRae is the only woman running in Ward 7, and has also had to push back against assumptions from voters that she is not qualified, because she isn’t a man. She and her family have faced attacks. Ariana Kippers, who is running in Ward 9, is Indigenous, Black and Chinese. She has two open police files -- and hires security during events. Kippers -- and all of the candidates CTV spoke with -- say they are pushing forward for public office, in spite of all of this. “I think the global state of politics is scary right now and it is scary for me but this is my city,” she said. “I love talking to people. ... I spend eight to 10 hours a day door knocking and I will until Oct. 20 because I want to hear from my neighbours,” Kippers said. Political experts say increased online incivility is spilling out into real life and it’s important for hateful instances to be called out and condemned immediately. “It’s got to be incredibly discouraging, and it does discourage some candidates,” said Lori Williams, political science professor at Mount Royal University. “All of them can stand together and say, ‘We don’t endorse this; we don’t want this; this does not help us politically.’” Advance polls close Saturday night at 7 p.m. Election Day is Monday, Oct. 20.
