Federal Progressive Canadian candidate Stephen Butcher has complained about his election signs being stolen. Now Bob Bateman, president of the Conservative Party of Canada's Sudbury Riding Association, said the signs in question don't belong to Butcher.
"Those signs are legally ours. Butcher has no right to use them.
"We will ask that they be returned."
Butcher was the Conservative candidate in the 2004 election.
"Unfortunately, Butcher seems to want to undercut our campaign. The signs have been cut, removing the wording, "authorized by the official agent for the Conservative Party of Canada," added Bateman.
Butcher responded in a news release saying Bateman's statement was full of inaccuracies, and an example of a large, well-financed party bullying a smaller one.
Butcher said the signs he's posted during the current campaign are clearly marked, "The Progressive Canadian Party of Canada," in both official languages.
"Monies used to purchase or modify these signs were paid by Stephen Butcher campaign money only," said Butcher.
"If they (Conservative Party) are responsible for the removal of my signs, they should stop now and return the ones that were removed," he said.
