(Ottawa) Threats against elected officials are increasing at an alarming rate across the country. Federal Minister for Public Safety Marco Mendicino bluntly asserted that new measures are needed to ensure their safety.
Posted at 6am yesterday
Joël-Denis Bellavance La Presse
Melanie Marquis The press
Mendicino, himself the subject of death threats after introducing Bill C-21 ordering a national freeze on handguns three weeks ago, does not rule out the idea of introducing security measures in Ottawa similar to those that have been in place for years in Quebec City, where ministers are escorted by an armed driver who acts as a bodyguard.
In light of recent threats against New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh in Peterborough, Ontario, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Surrey, British Columbia, and Vancouver East NDP MP Jenny Kwan, Mr Mendicino argued that the security of elected officials has deteriorated in recent years.
The situation is very, very serious. The safety of members of parliament, ministers, and all those involved in politics has deteriorated significantly in recent years. The pandemic has exacerbated the problem. Extremist rhetoric has circulated on social media. So we must act.
Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Security
Security around him has been tightened following death threats against Mr Mendicino and his family.
A step in the right direction
Eighteen months ago, the Board of Internal Economy – a committee in which representatives of all political parties recognized in the House of Commons discuss the functioning of the House of Representatives – decided to increase the security measures offered to elected officials.
So MPs can get surveillance cameras at their homes or police protection. All MPs have received a mobile personal alarm which, once activated, can alert an external monitoring center.
Recently, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police established a Ministerial Liaison Team whose job it is to communicate with ministers and their offices to determine if they have any safety issues or concerns.
In Ottawa, only the Prime Minister has the right to bodyguards. Ministers and party leaders have no special protection.
As Jagmeet Singh toured Peterborough in May, he was hounded and insulted extensively by individuals. “That was the most tense moment of my political life,” he told La Presse a few days later.
Also last month, Justin Trudeau was forced to cancel his attendance at a party fundraiser in Surrey after protesters hurled racial slurs at attendees, mostly of South Asian descent, entering the central community congress.
Minister Mendicino said further action is needed in light of recent events. Among other things, he said he could take inspiration from what Quebec is doing to keep ministers safe. “I think it’s a good move. This is a solution that could be considered. All options are on the table. We need to look at what other governments are doing to keep MPs and ministers safe,” he said.
“The situation is urgent. It is also very worrying to see that it is women and minority people who are the subject of more attacks. It got toxic,” he said.
“We have arrived”
National Security Advisor Michel Juneau-Katsuya agrees. “We are really in a country that is in transition and where the alternative right is becoming more and more important,” he argues in an interview.
Regardless of the political caste you belong to, you are an icon. Whether you are NDP, Conservative or Liberal, you are a symbol of the attack we intend to launch on the central government.
Michel Juneau-Katsuya, Security Advisor
And in his opinion, there is no doubt that the federal government must adopt the Quebec model because “we are here”. The “facts” are there: Elected officials have been harassed, intimidated, jostled, notes the former head of Canada’s Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
“The Prime Minister was pelted with gravel [pendant la campagne électorale] he exclaims. “It may not seem too serious at the moment, but we shouldn’t wait for a serious incident to occur before acting,” adds Juneau-Katsuya-san.
It is “impossible for the Canadian government to protect all elected officials” and “also impossible to protect all constituency offices”, but the protection of ministers “must be even more important than before”, believes the expert.