Conservative MP's office torched
su...@hate2010.games
industry, but not in offices of those elected to govern. Or was this Tory MP away 'at the
2010 Games' and out of harm's way?
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February 04, 2010 - National Post
Was Tory MP the target of $5-million arson?
Mississauga Conservative MP Bob Dechert says his constituency office may have been the
target of a $5-million fire now deemed as arson, but he doesn't recognize the short,
stocky man caught on videotape carrying a barbecue lighter and a jug of liquid into the
building.
"All MPs hear complaints from people from time to time. We get angry calls and emails, but
there were no specific threats of harm or violence against my office or any of my staff,"
Mr. Dechert told reporters outside his smoke-damaged office yesterday. "Whoever did this
is obviously a very disturbed individual and I hope that they get the assistance they need
soon."
Peel Regional Police and the Ontario Fire Marshal's office say arson is the cause of
Wednesday's fire that broke out around 4:30 p.m. at 1270 Central Parkway West, near
Burnhamthorpe and Mavis roads. The fire caused $5-million in damage and trapped more than
100 people in the building.
Media reports yesterday suggested fire officials had found an "incendiary device" in the
hallway outside Mr. Dechert's third floor office where the three-alarm fire broke out, but
police would not comment, citing evidence concerns.
Images obtained from security footage show a suspect police describe as a white male,
about five-feet, seven-inches tall, wearing orange coveralls walking through the building's
lobby shortly before the fire broke out. He appears to be carrying a barbeque lighter in
one hand and a jug of liquid in the other.
Mr. Dechert says does not recognize the suspect.
"It's very brazen. He's quite clearly carrying a lighter and he's not covering his face
with a scarf or anything," he said.
The fire produced thick smoke that that filled the stairwells, trapping workers on higher
floors. Police estimate there were about 250 people in the building when the fire started.
Some were treated for smoke inhalation, but there were no serious injuries.
Dan Duncan, Mr. Dechert's assistant, was the only person in the constituency office when
the fire broke out. He is credited with spotting the fire and alerting others in the
building.
Mr. Duncan says he was sitting at his desk when he heard a noise in the hallway and went
to investigate at the office's front door, which is always kept locked.
"There was an orange glow coming through the peephole and smoke was coming through the
cracks," he said. "There were flames on the walls and when I opened the door, there were
flames on our actual door."
He grabbed a fire extinguisher and managed to put out some of the flames, then made a
break for the stairwell across from the office, burning his hands on the stairwell
doorknob in the process.
"I couldn't see it because of the amount of smoke and flames but ... I just decided to go
for it."
After running down to the second floor, he pulled the fire alarm and told everyone to get
out.
Mr. Dechert is a backbench MP and has done little to attract controversy since he was
first elected in October, 2008, as the representative for Mississauga-Erindale. On Jan.
16, a group calling itself Citizens for Democracy and Canadians Against Proroguing
Parliament, consisting mainly of students, held a protest outside his office. But Mr.
Dechert says he doesn't believe the fire is linked to the protest.
"If someone was upset by that, you'd think there would be some complaint or message. It's
a mystery and we all hate mysteries."
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"If Ottawa giveth, then Ottawa can taketh away." -
Stephen Harper