Canadian politicians on opposite ends of the ideological spectrum stressed a need Monday to avoid inflaming discussion to the point of inciting violence against public figures.
An attempted assassination of former U.S. president Donald Trump at a weekend rally in Pennsylvania prompted concern and reflection north of the border, where politicians have seen a steady increase in threatening behaviour.
The shooting in Butler, Pa., left one person dead and two others critically injured. Officials said the gunman was killed by Secret Service personnel.
Trump, who was not seriously injured, is in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention.
President Joe Biden said Sunday he had ordered an independent security review of the events leading up to the attack on his political rival.
The Prime Minister91裸聊视频檚 Office said Sunday that Justin Trudeau spoke with Trump, saying there91裸聊视频檚 no place for political violence and expressing condolences for the victims.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters Monday he had been briefed by the RCMP and Canada91裸聊视频檚 spy service.
91裸聊视频淭hey went through the threat landscape,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hey talked to me about the additional vigilance that they91裸聊视频檝e put in place since the assassination attempt.91裸聊视频�
LeBlanc said the government would not discuss specific security measures but said he is 91裸聊视频渃onfident that the RCMP will do what91裸聊视频檚 necessary to protect elected leaders in Canada.91裸聊视频�
RCMP spokeswoman Marie-Eve Breton said the force is in regular contact with domestic and international partners regarding protective matters, including the Pennsylvania shooting.
In addition to the prime minister and Governor General, the RCMP is mandated to protect federal ministers and those designated by the public safety minister to receive protection on a case-by-case basis, she noted.
91裸聊视频淧rotective measures are intelligence-led and based on the latest risk and threat assessments, ongoing security considerations and a number of other factors.91裸聊视频�
LeBlanc said he exchanged text messages with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Sunday to assure him that measures were in place.
In a radio interview Monday with Newstalk 1010, Poilievre said he had requested protection in response to menacing statements.
91裸聊视频淪ome of them are threats, some of them are implied threats and some of them are vitriol that you can tell lead to violence. And a lot of them have been targeted at my family,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淭here are whack jobs out there that could do something. We take all the precautions possible,91裸聊视频� he said, quickly adding: 91裸聊视频淚 have to talk to people, and I91裸聊视频檓 not going to stop doing that.91裸聊视频�
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said it is wrong to inflame public debate to the point it ignites harassment or violence.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 worried about the increase of that in the political forum in general. I91裸聊视频檓 worried about that polarization,91裸聊视频� he said Monday in Toronto.
91裸聊视频淵ou should be able to raise concerns, you should be able to say that you don91裸聊视频檛 agree with a policy and that you91裸聊视频檙e really upset at it. But it should not be that we treat political opponents as enemies.91裸聊视频�
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Monday the way in which conservative politicians have been characterized is outrageous, alleging it has led to the current atmosphere in the U.S.
91裸聊视频淚 certainly hope that progressive politicians here are careful of their language, because they91裸聊视频檝e been talking about conservative politicians in the same way and they need to dial it down.91裸聊视频�
Finger-pointing, name-calling and violent episodes have made elected officials of all political stripes wary in Canada.
A Manitoba man drove a truck onto the grounds of the Governor General91裸聊视频檚 official residence in July 2020 and crashed through the gate. He intended to arrest Trudeau to make a statement about the government91裸聊视频檚 COVID-19 restrictions and its ban on assault-style firearms. He ultimately pleaded guilty to seven weapons-related charges, including possessing guns for a purpose dangerous to the public peace.
A St. Thomas, Ont., man pleaded guilty to common assault for throwing gravel at Trudeau during an election campaign stop in September 2021.
MPs have also been followed on the street and subjected to death threats in recent years.
Ontario Liberal MP Pam Damoff announced she would not run in the next election, saying the threats and misogyny she has experienced made her fearful of going out in public.
The federal Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre routinely analyzes the threat landscape, including possible dangers to public figures.
RCMP commissioner Mike Duheme said last spring the Mounties were seeing an increase in invective directed at politicians, including comments from the same individuals on multiple occasions.
Duheme said he wanted the government to look at drafting a new law that would make it easier for police to pursue charges against people who threaten elected officials.
However, Justice Minister Arif Virani subsequently suggested existing Criminal Code provisions and police resources were sufficient.
An intelligence report released in March said threats against politicians had become 91裸聊视频渋ncreasingly normalized91裸聊视频� due to extremist narratives prompted by personal grievances and fuelled by misinformation or deliberate lies.
The June 2023 report, prepared by a federal task force that aims to safeguard elections, said baseless theories, disinformation and misinformation had spread to larger audiences, exposing online users to narratives that undermine science, systems of government and traditional figures of authority.
91裸聊视频淰iolent rhetoric routinely fixates on elected officials 91裸聊视频� with particular hostility towards high-profile women,91裸聊视频� the report said.
LeBlanc said Monday that ensuring the safety of politicians is an important consideration for attracting people to public life.
91裸聊视频淚f you see discussions about threats of violence, about intimidation, about attacks on social media, it91裸聊视频檚 going to be harder to get good people to come forward and offer themselves to the service of their communities.91裸聊视频�
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