Threats against Trudeau government on rise
RCMP data show 130 incidents involving PM, cabinet so far in 2020
OTTAWA— Threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal cabinet ministers are on the rise, according to new RCMP data obtained by the Star.
The RCMP’s protective policing division logged 130 threats made against Trudeau or members of his cabinet between January and July, up from 100 recorded during the same period in 2019.
If the pace holds, 2020 could see considerably more threats directed at senior federal politicians than the previous election year’s total of 215.
Daniel Brien, a spokesperson with the national police force, said the RCMP would not discuss the specific nature of those threats or discuss any investigations into them.
But the past two months have presented several examples and political observers are becoming increasingly concerned about the inflammatory discourse on social media leading to more real world incidents.
On Thursday, Ontario’s Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Minister Lisa MacLeod’s spokesperson said in a statement posted to Twitter that she was under police protection.
“Following an interview with CFRA on harassment faced by female politicians, I can confirm that Minister MacLeod is once again receiving police protection due to both threatening emails and an unexplained mischievous incident to her personal vehicle in Ottawa,” the statement said. A woman was charged for threatening MacLeod in 2019, as the minister was pursuing controversial changes to Ontario’s autism strategy. MacLeod received police protection then as well.
Meanwhile, the Ottawa Police Service launched an investigation last week at federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna’s constituency office.
A 90-second video of the incident made the rounds on social media, showing an unidentified man hurling insults and expletives at a McKenna staffer about the minister and Trudeau. In a statement, McKenna called the incident “unacceptable” — but not isolated.
“My family, staff and I deal with abusive behaviour on a regular basis,” McKenna wrote, noting that social media platforms have some responsibility for the vitriol directed at public figures.
“These people just want attention. The only attention they should get is from law enforcement.”
In July, an armed Canadian Forces reservist was arrested near Rideau Hall with multiple firearms after a black Dodge Ram crashed through a pedestrian gate on the viceregal grounds, where Trudeau and his family live.
The RCMP are now investigating potential national security angles in the incident. Corey Hurren, the 46-year old Manitoban charged in the incident, had a long history of being drawn to conspiracy websites.
He also had four guns — two shotguns, a semi-automatic rifle, and a revolver — with him at the time.
CBC News reported last week Hurren had 405 rounds of .308calibre ammunition for the rifle, an undisclosed number of shotgun shells, plus the rounds loaded into the weapons when he was arrested.
Warnings came last year during testimony at a House of
Commons committee looking at the SNC-Lavalin affair, when then clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick said that the political climate and discourse in Canada could lead to someone being shot.
The 40-year veteran of the public service, now retired, has spoken publicly since about what he sees as an increasingly dangerous political discourse in this country.
“It’s directed, not just at the most prominent people, but at their staff members, at regular constituency MPs,” he said during an interview with the Star.
“So yes, definitely becoming a more toxic and dangerous environment.”
Most concerning for Wernick is the online world — social media, the dark web, and chat boards — where conspiracy theorists roam.
“I’m not sure that law enforcement is able to really monitor all of that until it becomes really, overtly serious,” he said. He commended MacLeod for speaking up about the issue and noted that women are most often the targets for vitriol and abuse.
“It’s going to drive people out of public life, eventually,” he said.
MPs of all political stripes have noted an increase in the online hatred directed at them in recent years — especially female politicians or people of colour in public life. Much of that harassment occurs online and especially on social media, where extremists and conspiracy theorists peddle their world views.
The RCMP’s Protective Policing service is responsible for the security of Trudeau, Governor General Julie Payette, cabinet ministers and Supreme Court and Federal Court judges. But in practice, only Trudeau and Payette have a permanent, 24-7 security detail.