Leaders shouted at by demonstrators. Canceled political events. The security of parliamentarians is increasingly threatened and it is therefore necessary to respond to it in an “urgent” way, insists the Federal Minister of Public Security, Marco Mendicino. Several options are being studied, including those to offer a security service to all ministers and party leaders and to ask the police to monitor the threats that are multiplying on social networks. Parliament Hill could also have more security guards this summer, Minister Mendicino said in an interview with To have to.
“The situation has deteriorated over the past few years. The pandemic has exacerbated it. But when elected officials debate issues like firearms or vaccination decrees, there is a level of toxicity, vitriol, threats that is unprecedented at the moment, reports the minister. The situation is serious. »
The Toronto elected official knows something about it. After serving as immigration minister between 2019 and 2021, Mr. Mendicino was appointed to public safety last fall. Since then, he sometimes has to use a security service.
He has been repeatedly threatened. His family too. His social media was once again on fire two weeks ago, when he tabled the government’s latest bill tightening gun control and proposing to freeze the sale, purchase and import of guns. handguns in Canada. A netizen claimed on Tuesday that elected government officials “should perhaps be beaten in the public square”. On Christmas Day, after Mr Mendicino posted a family photo in front of the tree on Instagram, another wrote: “Four people but one target. »
“It’s more intense now, in terms of the number of threats and the comments that are published,” said the minister.
The convoy of truckers as a warning
This anger had translated into hostile demonstrations during the last election campaign. Justin Trudeau was notably thrown stones during a stop in London, Ontario. The Prime Minister then gave his new head of public security the mandate to “reinforce the security of ministers and parliamentarians”.
The convoy of truckers that stormed the street along Parliament Hill and paralyzed downtown Ottawa confirmed the risk posed by this social climate, according to Mr. Mendicino. “It is because of the illegal blockade that the situation is [devenue] more urgent, he said. There was an impact on the safety of all the people working on the hill. »
Since last December, MPs have been able to carry a “panic button” with them to alert the police if necessary. They can have their homes assessed for risk and have a surveillance system installed if necessary. A telephone line is also available, to direct them to the appropriate security service if necessary.
But Minister Mendicino insists more needs to be done. His government is still in reflection. One of the options would be to increase the number of security officers in parliament and outside the parliamentary precinct. “I think we’re going to do more actions in the summer,” he said.
As a second step, the government is considering providing all ministers and political party leaders with a security service—which is done only when necessary at present—or with an armed driver—as is the case in the National Assembly. Last month, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh was chased and harassed by protesters, who quickly surrounded him as he tried to get back to his vehicle in Peterborough. The Minister of Justice, David Lametti, had meanwhile had to interrupt a press briefing in Montreal because he was heckled by a demonstrator.
The country’s police forces could also be called upon to monitor social networks or web forums more closely, in order to detect and assess threats to elected officials. The parliamentary precinct could be redesigned to enhance security and permanently pedestrianize Wellington Street opposite parliament, which has been closed to vehicles since protesters left in February.
Minister Mendicino is on the defensive in this file, after he suggested that the police had asked the federal government to invoke the Emergency Measures Act to dismantle the dams. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Ottawa Police offered a different version. Mr. Mendicino has since specified that he “sought advice from the police services”.
However, the Conservatives are calling for his resignation. The Minister countered that they simply want to “distract attention” from the fact that their interim leader, Candice Bergen, and several of their MPs have “encouraged, incited the participants in this illegal demonstration to stay there”. “It’s up to them to offer an apology. Not mine,” Mr. Mendicino said.