Mayor threatened

In office less than four months, Mayor Keith Hobbs has already had to call authorities to deal with an alleged threat against his person.

Hobbs, who originally told a packed house at Wednesday’s annual racial discrimination breakfast that he’d received a death threat, later told media it was an email from someone threatening him bodily harm.

He said it all stems back to statements he’s made about embracing the region’s Aboriginal population as part of his recent state of the city address. In the speech he said he wanted Thunder Bay to become Nishnawbe Aski Nation's honourary 50th territory.

“I got a hateful email from a person in Edmonton. It actually got quite serious, where he threatened to kick my ass. So I had to send the hate crime unit out to visit this person in Edmonton,” Hobbs told media Wednesday morning.
 
Hobbs, who spent 34 years as a police officer in Thunder Bay, said he sent the emails to police in Edmonton because that’s where the threat emanated from. It’s also why he didn’t involve the Thunder Bay Police Service.

“He threatened to come kick my ass and that could be construed as bodily harm or whatever and that’s just totally unacceptable behavior. Because I’m trying to promote First Nation issues, you don’t make threats against me.”

Hobbs didn't say when he received the alleged threat, but said he feels the matter has been dealt with acceptably and he has no plans for further action against the individual, who he did not name.

“This person has been spoken to and I’m happy with that. There are no criminal charges going to be laid. However, if I continue to receive emails, which I am, I will maybe take it a step further,” he said.

Edmonton police were not immediately available for comment on the matter.

Thunder Bay Police Chief Robert Herman, who was also in attendance Wednesday morning, said it was the first he’d heard of any threat against the mayor.

Hobbs added he’s been under the gun from some in the community who have suggested his acceptance of Aboriginals is the wrong course of action.

Hobbs read a recent posting on his Facebook page, from someone claiming to be speaking on behalf of taxpaying citizens, asking why the city’s leaders continue to promote “bringing in Natives to our community … who are a drain on society and a threat to honest people.”

“By being politically correct we are putting many good people in harm’s way. I know this is true and you know this is true. We want to promote tourism. Who in their right mind would come to Thunder Bay with our problems,” said Hobbs, quoting from a printout of the message.

The mayor has no time for people like that, he said.

“That to me is disgusting. We have a great community, but I think we have to speak to that segment of people who have those attitudes and we have to change those attitudes.”