(Ottawa) Threats against elected officials are increasing at an alarming rate across the country. New measures are required to ensure their safety, bluntly asserts the federal Minister of Public Security, Marco Mendicino.
Posted at 6:00 a.m.
Having himself been the subject of death threats after tabling Bill C-21 decreeing a national freeze on handguns, three weeks ago, Mr. Mendicino does not rule out the idea of establishing in Ottawa security measures similar to those that have existed for years in Quebec City, where ministers are accompanied by an armed driver acting as a bodyguard.
Reflecting on 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 security of MPs, ministers, all those who work in the political sphere has deteriorated considerably in recent years. The pandemic has exacerbated the problem. Extremist rhetoric has spread on social media. So we have to act.
Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Security
Security measures have been tightened around Mr. Mendicino and his family following death threats against them.
A step in the right direction
Eighteen months ago, the Board of Internal Economy — a committee where representatives of each of the political parties recognized in the Commons discuss the functioning of the House — decided to increase the security measures offered to elected officials.
Thus, MPs can obtain surveillance cameras at their homes or police protection. All MEPs have received a mobile personal alarm which, once activated, can alert a third-party monitoring centre.
Recently, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police created a Ministerial Liaison Team whose role is to communicate with ministers and their offices to see if they have any security issues or concerns.
In Ottawa, only the Prime Minister has the right to bodyguards. Ministers and party leaders enjoy no special protection.
Passing through Peterborough in May, Jagmeet Singh was chased and copiously insulted by individuals. “It was the most tense moment of my political life,” he told The Press a few days later.
Also last month, Justin Trudeau was forced to cancel his attendance at a party fundraising dinner in Surrey after protesters hurled racial slurs at attendees, mostly of South Asian descent, entering the center municipal congress.
In light of recent events, other measures are necessary, according to Minister Mendicino. Among other things, he said he could take inspiration from what Quebec is doing to ensure the security of ministers. “I think it’s a good move. This is a solution that could be considered. All options are on the table. We have to look at what other governments are doing to ensure the safety of MPs and ministers,” he said.
“The situation is urgent. It is also very worrying to see that it is women and people from minorities who are the object of more attacks. It became toxic,” he said.
“We got there”
Security consultant Michel Juneau-Katsuya agrees. “We are really in a country that is in the process of metamorphosis, and where the alternative right is taking more and more space,” he argues in an interview.
Regardless of the political caste to which you belong, you are a symbol. Whether you are NDP, Conservative or Liberal, you are a symbol of the attack that we want to make against the central government.
Michel Juneau-Katsuya, security consultant
And according to him, there is no doubt that the federal government must adopt the Quebec model, because “we are there”. The “facts” are there: elected officials have been harassed, intimidated, jostled, notes the former executive of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
“The Prime Minister was thrown gravel [pendant la campagne électorale] he exclaims. “For the moment, it may not seem too serious, but we should not wait for a serious incident to occur before acting,” adds Mr. Juneau-Katsuya.
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.