'Anger that I haven't seen before': Singh harassment incident puts renewed spotlight on politicians' security
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s recent encounter with protesters at an Ontario election campaign stop, where he was verbally harassed, is casting a renewed spotlight on politicians’ security, with Singh telling CTV News that he's witnessing a level of anger he hasn't seen before.
“What I’m noticing is true is that there is more of a polarization and an aggression and an anger that I haven’t seen before,” he said while visiting a pro-choice counter protest to the March for Life demonstrations on Parliament Hill on Thursday.
Singh received a barrage of insults earlier in the week as he exited a rally for Ontario NDP candidate Jen Deck, who’s running in the Peterborough – Kawartha riding.
Several protesters yelled expletives at the NDP leader and called him a “traitor” as he made his way to his car.
Singh called it an “isolated” incident, but acknowledged no person – elected or not – should be made to feel unsafe.
“People should be able to be angry about policies that they feel strongly about. People should be able to express that, I think that's a fundamental part of democracy, but no one should feel physically threatened or menaced when they're a leader,” he said.
Peterborough police are now investigating the event.
On his way to Thursday’s pro-choice demonstration, Singh was once again met by what appeared to be a few “Freedom Convoy” protesters. While the encounter was not as aggressive as what he faced days prior, police did intervene.
With a security detail nearby, the NDP leader took a moment to reflect on the incidents and more broadly what it means for federal politics.
“I think about the message that's being sent to a lot of people out there that might consider politics and may not now, seeing that level of tension and aggression. And that's going to be a lot of the people that want to participate in politics, that are going to be discouraged and I think that's very dangerous,” he said.
Asked whether additional security has been assigned to accompany Singh, a party spokesperson told CTVNews.ca it’s not something they can discuss publicly.
Several politicians have spoken out about the harassment levied against them while in office.
After being pelted with gravel during the 2021 federal election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it’s “unacceptable” that people endanger others at a political rally.
Following that, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner talked about her experience with both online and in-person harassment and death threats.
“It’s unfortunately an all-too-frequent occurrence for me and many of my colleagues, particularly women, of all political stripes. And this increase in violent language, threats, and abuse certainly isn't confined to politics," she wrote.
Ahead of the arrival of the “Freedom Convoy” protest in Ottawa in January, a top official who oversees security for the House of Commons, Sergeant-at-Arms Patrick McDonell, issued a warning to MPs that they had intel suggesting protesters were planning to dox the homes of MPs who live in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
While the threat did not appear to materialize, McDonell had advised that if MPs saw a demonstration take place at their personal residence or constituency office they should not get involved and to “go somewhere safe.”
Then, as the anti-mandate and anti-government protesters became encamped in the streets surrounding Parliament Hill, security was ramped up for MPs coming through the precinct, including seeing the RCMP provide an escort service due to the heightened threat level.
"When things started to get tense, we determined that the threat was higher for parliamentarians walking to and from Parliament. We provided a staging area that allowed for parliamentarians to meet, if they so wished, to get driven to Parliament. We also provided additional security for the Senate," RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki told the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency, on April 26.
During a House of Commons public safety committee meeting on Thursday, Liberal MP Pam Damoff asked the RCMP’s Deputy Commissioner Michael Duheme whether more could be done to protect the safety of elected officials.
Duheme said it can be a “challenge” navigating these threats, as some don’t meet the threshold of an RCMP investigation.
“When we do have a file with regards to potential threats, be it online or via phone or directly, we do engage with Public Prosecution Service of Canada to discuss the file and see if we’ve met the threshold for these threats. It is a challenge, I can say from an RCMP perspective,” he said.
The deputy commissioner nevertheless called the Singh incident “unacceptable” and said that the RCMP is “following up.”
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Drive one of these vehicles? You may pay 37 per cent more than average insurance costs due to thefts
As the number of auto theft incidents rises in Canada, so have insurance premiums for drivers, even the ones whose vehicles aren't stolen.
'I'm not wealthy': Ontario senior shocked she owes $40,000 in capital gains after gifting land
An Ontario senior who wanted to help her daughter and grandson eventually own homes one day decided to give them two lots on her property as a gift—but she didn’t know it would eventually cost her tens of thousands of dollars.
NDP want Liberals to scrap proposed election date change that could secure pensions for many MPs
The federal New Democrats want to amend the Liberal government's electoral reform legislation to scrap the proposal to push back the vote by a week and consequently secure pensions for dozens of MPs, CTV News has learned.
Largest vaccine production plant in Canada opens in Toronto
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is announcing the opening of a major vaccine production plant in Toronto today — part of Canada's efforts to build up the domestic biomanufacturing sector in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These are the world's 20 best cities for foodies, according to Time Out
Some travellers pick a city break based on the destination’s cultural offerings. Others eye up cities with buzzy nightlife or opt for a destination hosting a festival or event. But for many vacationers, the most exciting part of any trip is the food.
Video shows driver in Toronto frantically getting out of car being pushed by truck
A CP24 camera caught the moment a driver frantically got out of her car as it was being dragged by a truck on Avenue Road Wednesday afternoon.
Israeli centrist party proposes vote to dissolve parliament
Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz's centrist party proposed on Thursday holding a parliamentary vote on dissolving the parliament, but it was unclear whether he had enough support to bring about an early election.
Exorbitant fees get Gazans out with no help from Ottawa
The comforting sound of giggling grandchildren has chased away the cloud of anxiety that has loomed over Mohammed and Intisar Nofal's home for the past seven months.
BMO services restored following outage from data centre fire alarm, the bank says
Bank of Montreal clients saw services restored Thursday morning after an overnight, false fire alarm caused outages, the bank says.
Local Spotlight
Video shows driver in Toronto frantically getting out of car being pushed by truck
A CP24 camera caught the moment a driver frantically got out of her car as it was being dragged by a truck on Avenue Road Wednesday afternoon.
Prince Edward Island celebrates first-ever International Day of Potato
Prince Edward Island is celebrating its first-ever International Day of Potato on Thursday.
'Bigger and better and stronger than ever': Covered Bridge Chips president sets sights for late 2025 rebuild after fire
The president of Covered Bridge Chips in New Brunswick is hoping to have his factory rebuilt for late 2025 following a devastating fire last year.
Winnipeg high school helps lead ducks that nested in courtyard to water
Students and staff at Winnipeg’s Westwood Collegiate had a unique problem to solve this month; how do you lead ducks to water from the school’s courtyard when 12 of them can’t fly yet?
Questions and concerns remain after space junk lands in Saskatchewan
Debby Lorinczy remembers her father as an amazing person and as a man who also made an amazing discovery.
Ski jumper Abigail Strate getting a buzz out of working with bees
Abigail Strate is a member of the Canadian national ski jumping team and an Olympic bronze medallist. She's also a certified beekeeper.
Oilers superfan hopeful Edmonton wins so he can get his massive Stanley Cup tattoo retouched
It's been a long time coming, but one Oilers superfan is hoping this will be the year he gets to touch up his massive Stanley Cup back tattoo.
WATCH Alta. man rescues wild foal trapped on steep cliffside
A man's daring rescue of a newborn wild foal that was trapped after falling down a steep embankment was caught on video over the weekend.
'Forgot how fun this was': Winnipeg man competing in World Pinball Championship
A Winnipeg pinball wizard is heading to the granddaddy of them all – the IFPA World Pinball Championship.