Vulgar slur painted across MP Catherine McKenna's office

Whoever spray-painted avulgar word across the front window of Catherine McKenna's campaign office overnight has failed in their attempt to chase women out of politics, theOttawa Centre MP said Thursday.

Staff discovered the word "c--t" scrawled in red letters across a largeimage of McKenna's face on the front window of the officeon Richmond Road, in the Ottawa neighbourhood of Westboro,around8:45 a.m. Thursday.

The vandalism wasreported to police, staff said.

"I don't even have words to describe what kind of person would do this,"McKenna told reporters Thursday. "It's the same as the trolls on Twitter.It needs to stop."

• Threats, abuse move from online to real world, McKenna now requires security

McKenna, the environment and climate change minister for the four years leading up to last month's election call, told The Canadian Press last month that the threats and verbal abuse she's experienced since her election in 2015 have moved from online to real life.

'I'm angry and quite frankly, really disappointed'

5 years ago

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MP Catherine McKenna spoke to reporters Thursday morning after her campaign office was defaced with sexist graffiti.

When asked Thursday whether the latest incident makes her second-guess her decision to enter politics,McKenna responded with a firm "no."

"In fact, it makes it just so clear why it's so important to go into politics," she said. "Some peopleclearlywant to chase women out of politics that's not going to make politics any better."

McKenna linked the vulgar graffiti to the recent federal election campaign, which she called "very negative and divisive."

The Ottawa MP was re-elected Mondayby more than 15,000 votes, according to Elections Canada. ToMcKenna,the graffiti is a further sign there's an ongoing need toimprove politicsin Canada, even now that the campaign is over.

"It's just going to make me re-commit to making it a better place for women [and] for diversity of all sorts."

There was some vandalism toMcKenna's signs during the recent federal election campaign, but nothing like this, her office said.

Other politicians rallied behind McKenna Thursday, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, whocalled the vandalism "disgusting."

"There is no place in Canada for hate like this," Ford tweeted. "While we may disagree on matters, we must always respect one another."

"It's horrible. Words can't express how angry I feel that someone would do this," saidCoun. Theresa Kavanagh, who serves as Ottawa city council's special liaison on women's issues.

Kavanagh called for the tagging to be treated as a hate crime.

"We can't let it go. We have to make an example of it and come out strongly that this is unacceptable," Kavanagh said.

Ottawa police said unless there is corroborating evidence of a hate crime, the vandalism on McKenna's office would be consideredmischief.

A spokesperson said no charges have yet been laid.