Security threat: Trudeau rallies in a bulletproof vest
TORONTO: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared at a rally in the Greater Toronto Area wearing a bulletproof vest and followed by heavy security detail at a major election rally on Saturday.
According to Canadian Press, Trudeau wore a “bulky” protective vest under his suit as he addressed the crowd of nearly 2000 at the rally which began 90 minutes after its scheduled start.
Trudeau was surrounded by officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), both, in plainclothes and in tactical gear. The RCMP detail shadowed the Liberal Party leader on the stage and as he interacted with supporters. That combined with the fact that his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, did not make a scheduled appearance at the event raised concerns.
A source within the Liberal Party campaign told the Canadian Press that there security threat, though its nature has yet to be revealed. As the campaign for the Federal elections on October 21 gets closer, and rhetoric and attacks become shriller, the RCMP has been increasingly wary of potential violence on the campaign trail.
INDO-CANADIAN MINISTER SEEKS RE-ELECTION
Four years after he was famously dubbed Canada’s ‘badass’ defence minister, Harjit Sajjan is locked in a close contest as he seeks re-election to the House of Commons.
With less than ten days before the Federal elections on October 21, Sajjan is ahead over his Conservative Party rival in Vancouver South but that lead falls within the margin of error, according to 338Canada, which makes projections for every riding, as constituencies are called in Canada.
Sajjan was part of the cohort of four Indo-Canadian ministers, all Sikhs, appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to his Cabinet in 2014. Two of his colleagues appear to have an easier path to victory while the last seems certain to lose his seat.