REGINA — A Saskatchewan Party candidate in Monday's provincial election says he doesn't want his volunteers to feel scared by two holes found in a window at his campaign office.
Rahul Singh, who is running in Regina Northeast, says volunteers were inspecting signs at his office in a strip mall when they noticed the holes in two windows.
One of the windows is near an area where volunteers usually work.
"We immediately contacted the Regina police, just because we were concerned about the safety of our volunteers," Singh said Tuesday.
The Saskatchewan Party, in a release, described them as bullet holes. But Singh said that's up to police to determine.
"We don't know what exactly was fired," he said.
Police said officers received a report about possible bullet holes on Monday night and examined the scene.
"Investigation indicated the damage was not the result of a firearm discharge," said a release, adding the damage is being investigated as mischief.
Earlier Tuesday before the police statement, Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe said the targeting of a campaign for any party in this way is "completely unacceptable."
He alleged the damage appeared to have come from a “gunshot.”
"What appears is there was a at least one bullet that was shot into their campaign office," he told reporters in Prince Albert, north of Saskatoon.
“This is unprecedented for our province, and unprecedented in a campaign.
“We've seen this in the U.S. presidential campaign, not in a provincial Saskatchewan election.”
The holes in the windows were seen through the first pane of glass, not the second.
Singh said there was no evidence of debris inside the building.
“Just the outside,” he said.
NDP Leader Carla Beck said politicians should never be subjected to violence.
"My heart goes out to Mr. Singh, the volunteers and the campaign staff working to support Mr. Singh’s campaign, who are no doubt shaken by this violent act," she said in a statement.
"I hope that whoever committed this act is brought to justice."
Singh said the damage may have happened in the last four or five days, but it remains unclear since the office doesn't have a security camera covering that side of the building.
Singh said his team has done good work over the last six months, but the "attack" at his office puts them in danger.
"The last thing I want is for them to lose hope right now or (get) scared," he said. "Any form of violence against any candidate is not acceptable in Canadian democracy."
Tuesday was the start of early voting for Saskatchewan residents.
In a social media post, Moe said he and his wife, Krista, cast their ballots in his riding of Rosthern-Shellbrook.
Beck had planned campaign stops in Moose Jaw and Regina.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
Jeremy Simes, The Canadian Press
