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Explosion outside Bowinn Ma's office raises questions about whether violence against politicians is on the rise
Explosion outside Bowinn Ma's office raises questions about whether violence against politicians is on the rise

The Province

time2 hours ago

  • Politics
  • The Province

Explosion outside Bowinn Ma's office raises questions about whether violence against politicians is on the rise

Experts and politicians at all levels say an explosion outside Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma's office fits trend of recent attacks RCMP outside the constituency office of Bowinn Ma, minister of infrastructure and MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, on Friday. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG Social media has increased polarization and the toxicity surrounding public life, experts said Friday, as politicians at all levels tell stories of harassment, vandalization of personal property and even death threats. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors 'I think that there's good reason to think that these types of incidents are becoming more frequent in Canadian politics,' said Chris Tenove, assistant director at UBC's centre for the study of democratic institutions. 'Two years ago now, the federal government commissioned an intelligence report on threats against politicians, and that noted that threats had become increasingly normalized because of extremist narratives, often prompted by people with grievances, often fuelled by misinformation or conspiracies.' Tenove was commenting after police confirmed an explosive device had been set off outside B.C. Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma's constituency office in North Vancouver early Friday morning. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In particular, Tenove said, high-profile women are frequent targets of these sorts of threats. In 2023, then B.C. United MLA Elenore Sturko, who later joined the Conservatives, and former NDP cabinet minister Selina Robinson went public about threats of death and sexual violence they had both received. Robinson said she received emails almost daily for several months with the subject line 'I WILL KILL YOU SELINA ROBINSON' and threats to cut her genitalia. The individual sending the messages was eventually arrested. B.C. Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko. Photo by Jason Payne / Postmedia Sturko said Friday that the pair's advocacy ultimately led to changes in how members of the legislature and their staff are taught to handle these types of incidents and what information police are able to provide them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Police 'were able to obtain permission to allow us to be able to see what that person looks like, so that when we would go to events, we would know whether or not that person was there,' she said. 'The legislature is often doing security questionnaires and updates with members of their office staff to look at continuous improvement for our security so in terms of like physical security of our offices and even of the legislature. I think that they are doing quite a good job there.' Sturko said training for new MLAs has also been updated to ensure MLAs and staff know they should report any and all suspicious emails to legislative security who will work with the appropriate police force on an investigation and risk assessment. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. She said she reached out to Ma after Friday's incident and wants to be clear that, whatever her disagreements with the policies of the NDP, nobody should ever face threats because of their job. 'The premier is someone that I often criticize on social media, going after the NDP's policies, but as a human being and as a father and as a family person and member of the community, he's not my enemy,' said Sturko. 'We have to be very mindful, even when things are tough, that we remind members of the public that that is the case, that we are not actually enemies.' During last fall's provincial election, then NDP cabinet minister Nathan Cullen reported to RCMP that someone had drawn a noose around his neck on a campaign sign. Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has been under RCMP protective detail for 18 months after it was discovered that an Indian agent with ties to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang had him under close surveillance. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Mayor Ken Sim returns to his police vehicle after an event in Vancouver on Friday. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has had police protection, including being driven in a police vehicle, since November due to threats to his safety. Sim's protective detail had cost taxpayers just under $225,000 as of the end of May. Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West told Postmedia he has had several threatening incidents, including one where someone engaged in a dispute with the city threatened his family and showed up at his house while his wife and two young sons were home. In another case, he said a man struggling with mental health issues told a local bylaw officer he had a gun and was going to shoot West, only for police to arrest him and find out it was a replica gun. The mayor said he had to 'fight like hell' to get police and prosecutors to lay charges following the gun incident only for the individual to get a conditional discharge and believes the public system is failing all British Columbians, not just politicians. 'It's very easy for the system to to rationalize threats against individuals when they're not the individual who's having the threats against them,' said West. 'I mean when someone is threatening to kill your wife and young children you have a different perspective, and maybe take it more seriously, but our systems certainly don't.' With files from Dan Fumano Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks News NHL

No injuries after 'explosive device' left at MLA Bowinn Ma's office
No injuries after 'explosive device' left at MLA Bowinn Ma's office

The Province

time5 hours ago

  • Politics
  • The Province

No injuries after 'explosive device' left at MLA Bowinn Ma's office

MLA Bowinn Ma is pictured in this 2017 file photo at her North Vancouver constituency office alongside former B.C. premier, the late John Horgan. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG An explosive device set off outside of MLA Bowinn Ma's North Vancouver constituency office early on Friday morning is prompting concerns about security for elected officials. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors 'I'm grateful for the outpouring of support from community members and people across B.C., including MLAs from all sides of the House,' Ma said in a statement Friday afternoon. 'My staff, my family, and I are OK.' According to North Vancouver RCMP Cpl. Mansoor Sahak, there were two sounds of explosions reported overnight, one around 2:45 a.m. in the 100-block of West 1st Street and a second at 4:15 a.m. outside Ma's office in the 200 block of West Esplanade near Chesterfield Avenue. RCMP investigated the first report with a police dog trained in explosives, but found no evidence of an explosion. Following the second report, police found an explosive device had been detonated, breaching the door and damaging the door frame to Ma's office. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. No further details were given as to the nature of the device. An RCMP explosives disposal unit dealt with the device, and a police dog and evidence specialists were also brought in. Ma said she had 'full confidence' in the RCMP's investigation and confirmed the RCMP's serious crimes unit was involved. 'Regardless of intent or motivation, I know that incidents like this can be very frightening for a community. My staff and I will be working with the legislative assembly's security team to ensure that our office can continue to provide a safe and secure environment from which to serve community members,' she said. 'We want every member of our community to feel safe and welcome when they come into our office for help or to provide us with feedback and advice.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Ma's office is on the ground floor of a commercial building and remained behind police tape, while the offices above remained open. 'The office and the building was deemed safe,' Sahak said. 'At no point was there ever any indication that there's further risk to the public, and had there been any indication, most certainly, we would have notified everybody in that building. 'But at that point, there was no indication that anyone further was in danger, and that this was an isolated incident.' Sahak said the police are canvassing neighbours for security and dashboard camera footage. Police also wouldn't speculate whether the attack was politically motivated or whether the first 'loud bang' was connected to the explosion outside Ma's office. Police gave no information about possible suspects or any persons of interest. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The investigation is in an early stage,' Sahak said. 'The office building does belong to an MLA's office, and our investigators are in touch with Bowinn Ma's office. 'That is something we're going to be looking at see if this was specifically targeted at her, or was it just in general. 'We don't know, those are the questions that are going to be answered, hopefully, through our investigation as it unfolds.' In an earlier statement Friday morning, Ma said all meetings and appointments for the day had been cancelled due to the 'frightening' incident. She later confirmed her physical office would be closed until July 2 while the investigation continued, but encouraged residents to reach out by email or phone. 'Please know that my office and I continue to be here to support you,' she wrote. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Shane O'Grady, legislative assembly staff sergeant for the MLA safety program, sent a letter to MLAs and their constituency offices on Friday telling them that 'an unknown person left an explosive device at one of our North Vancouver constituency offices, which detonated and caused damage to property, but fortunately no one was in the area and thus there were no injuries.' He added that constituency offices in the Lower Mainland should 'exercise caution, report any suspicious activity to police and reach out to my team if you need anything.' MLA Bowinn Ma is pictured in this 2017 file photo at her North Vancouver constituency office alongside the then B.C. premier, the late John Horgan. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG As of midday Friday, investigators remained at Ma's office. The sidewalk in front of Ma's office entrance was cordoned off to pedestrians, while access to an investment office and a dental clinic two doors over were also restricted as police inspected the scene. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Several police cruisers were parked nearby, some with lights flashing, while a large white RV-sized police van with no windows was also parked nearby. Ma's office, which backs onto train tracks and sits between an e-bike shop and a private investment office, was sealed off with police tape. Laura Yarwob, who works at the Fresh Street Market grocery store across the street from Ma's office, heard what she described as an explosion from her home a block away around 2:30 a.m. 'It sounded like a really loud bang, but it didn't sound like trains,' she said. 'It sounded like something more. It wasn't a car crash. It was like a big like the It shook the house. 'It was crazy.' Talking with customers throughout the morning, Yarwob said from their accounts the loud noise could be heard throughout a three-block radius in the neighbourhood near Lonsdale Quay and the Shipyards District. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I didn't call the police because you don't know what it is, because with the trains moving all the time, you never know what's going on there,' she said. 'They change tracks, so they're always loud, but it wasn't a train.' An RCMP officer said there was no danger to the public, which didn't assuage Yarwob. 'It shouldn't be happening here in North Vancouver or anywhere,' she said. 'It's kind of scary.' Premier David Eby voiced his support for Ma Friday, calling her 'an incredible community leader, who I am proud to work with every day.' 'No matter who you are, or what you do for a living, you have a right to safety at work,' he wrote in a post on X. Bowinn Ma is an incredible community leader, who I am proud to work with every matter who you are, or what you do for a living, you have a right to safety at work. My thoughts are with @BowinnMa, her staff and the community affected by this incident. — David Eby (@Dave_Eby) June 27, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Opposition Leader John Rustad also called for MLAs, regardless of party affiliation, to stand with Ma and her team. 'The idea that someone would set off a device to damage or somehow threaten an MLA's C.A. office is deeply concerning,' he said. 'No one in B.C. should feel scared to go in to work.' Every member of the Legislative Assembly of BC must stand with NDP MLA Bowin Ma & her Constituency Office idea that someone would set off a device to damage or somehow threaten an MLA's CA office is deeply concerning. No one in BC should feel scared to go in to work. — John Rustad (@JohnRustad4BC) June 27, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. sip@ gordmcintyre@ alazenby@ Read More

No injuries after 'explosive device' left at B.C. minister's office
No injuries after 'explosive device' left at B.C. minister's office

Toronto Sun

time6 hours ago

  • Politics
  • Toronto Sun

No injuries after 'explosive device' left at B.C. minister's office

VANCOUVER, B.C.: June 27, 2025 - Police inspect the office of Bowinn Ma, British Columbia's Minister of Infrastructure and MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, after an explosive device was detonated outside the constituency office in North Vancouver, B.C. on June 27, 2025. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG MLA Bowinn Ma confirmed there were no injuries and that police are investigating after a security problem at her constituency office on Friday morning in North Vancouver. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 'All meetings and appointments at my constituency office are cancelled for the day due to a security incident that occurred in the early hours of this morning,' Ma said in a statement. 'Thankfully, nobody was injured, but incidents like this can be quite frightening.' In a note to MLAs and their offices, it was confirmed the incident involved an explosive that had been left at the door of Ma's office. Shane O'Grady, Legislative Assembly staff sergeant for the MLA Safety Program, sent out a letter to MLAs and their constituency offices early Friday morning informing them that 'an unknown person left an explosive device at one of our North Vancouver constituency offices, which detonated and caused damage to property but fortunately no one was in the area and thus there were no injuries.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He added that constituency offices around the Lower Mainland should 'exercise caution, report any suspicious activity to police and reach out to my team if you need anything.' MLA Bowinn Ma is pictured in this 2017 file photo at her North Vancouver constituency office alongside former B.C. premier, the late John Horgan. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG North Vancouver RCMP remain at Ma's office near Esplanade and Chesterfield Avenue on Friday around noon but have yet to provide details on the incident. A news conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the North Vancouver RCMP's detachment. Late Friday morning, the sidewalk in front of Ma's office entrance remained cordoned off to pedestrians. Access to an investment office and a dental clinic two doors over were also restricted while police continued to investigate. Several police cruisers were parked nearby, some with lights flashing, while a large white RV-sized police van with no windows was also parked nearby. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. There were no impacts to vehicle traffic along Esplanade. Ma's office, which backs onto train tracks and sits between an e-bike shop and a private investment office, was sealed off with police tape. Laura Yarwob, who works at the Fresh Street Market across the street from Ma's office, heard what she described as an explosion from her home a block away around 2:30 a.m. 'It sounded like a really loud bang, but it didn't sound like trains,' she said. 'It sounded like something more. It wasn't a car crash. It was like a big like the It shook the house. 'It was crazy.' Talking with customers throughout the morning, Yarwob said from their accounts the loud noise could be heard throughout a three-block radius in the normally quiet neighbourhood near Lonsdale Quay and the Shipyards District. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I didn't call the police because you don't know what it is, because with the trains moving all the time, you never know what's going on there,' she said. 'They change tracks, so they're always loud, but it wasn't a train.' An RCMP officer at the scene said there was no danger to the public, which didn't assuage Yarwob. 'It shouldn't be happening here in North Vancouver or anywhere,' she said. 'It's kind of scary.' Premier David Eby voiced his support for Ma Friday, calling her 'an incredible community leader, who I am proud to work with every day.' 'No matter who you are, or what you do for a living, you have a right to safety at work,' he wrote in a post on X. Bowinn Ma is an incredible community leader, who I am proud to work with every matter who you are, or what you do for a living, you have a right to safety at work. My thoughts are with @BowinnMa, her staff and the community affected by this incident. — David Eby (@Dave_Eby) June 27, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Opposition Leader John Rustad also called for MLAs, regardless of party affiliation, to stand with Ma and her team. 'The idea that someone would set off a device to damage or somehow threaten an MLA's CA office is deeply concerning,' he said. 'No one in B.C. should feel scared to go in to work.' Every member of the Legislative Assembly of BC must stand with NDP MLA Bowin Ma & her Constituency Office idea that someone would set off a device to damage or somehow threaten an MLA's CA office is deeply concerning. No one in BC should feel scared to go in to work. — John Rustad (@JohnRustad4BC) June 27, 2025 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Ma said she appreciated the concern expressed by community members. 'I am grateful to serve such a caring and compassionate community,' said Ma in her statement. 'I'd also like to thank the officers who responded for their diligence and professionalism.' Ma said she would not be commenting further due to the active police investigation unfolding. More to come… sip@ gordmcintyre@ alazenby@ Read More Music Crime Canada Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Raptors

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