'Say it to my face': Singh confronts heckling protester on Parliament Hill
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confronted a protester for calling him a “corrupted bastard” on Parliament Hill on Tuesday.
A video of the verbal altercation is gaining considerable traction online. The original video, along with copies and shares, has racked up several hundred thousand views in just a few hours.
In the video posted to YouTube, a protestor can be heard insulting Singh, before the NDP leader approaches and challenges him, and asks if he “has something to say.”
“You’re a coward if you’re not going to say it to my face,” Singh tells the protestor.
Two protestors, who were also filming Singh at the time, deny throwing the insult his way, despite it being audible in the video.
After one protestor insists he would “admit it” if he were the one who “said something like that,” Singh says “alright,” and walks away.
Singh’s office confirmed to CTV News the incident happened on Tuesday, MPs’ second day back in Ottawa since June.
“A large group gathered at Ottawa’s Parliament Building has been intimidating, filming and harassing staff, pedestrians, journalists and even visitors—some of whom are here because they have survived terrible trauma and have come to share their story with lawmakers,” said an NDP spokesperson in a statement emailed to CTV News. “Jagmeet Singh does not tolerate bullies and does not condone violence.”
Several MPs commented on the incident raising concerns about safety for politicians and public figures, after clips started circulating on social media.
“We have the leaders of a national party stepping out in a parking lot on Parliament Hill and facing a confrontation, and having to be there by himself while security stands and watches him,” said NDP MP Charlie Angus. “We're dealing right now with an increasingly dangerous and toxic mix for politicians of all stripes.”
Angus goes on to call it an “absolute disgrace” that Parliament Hill security can be seen standing by in the video without intervening. CTV News has asked the Parliamentary Protective Service for comment.
“I've been at this over 20 years, I've seen crowds that have been angry about an issue, but I've seen a general respect for the political process,” Angus also says. “The kind of threats that I've received in the last two years are something I never would have imagined people in Canada would even think to say, and the fact that it's getting closer and closer all the time, someone is going to get hurt.”
Liberal MP Pam Damoff, who announced last May she won’t run again in the next federal election because of the level of toxicity in politics, said she’s “not overly comfortable crossing the street” considering how close protestors are able to get to MPs.
“Mr. Singh is a bit of a lightning rod because he's recognizable, and there's so much rhetoric about the Liberals and the NDP, I find it really scary, and I worry that something is going to happen to people, to a politician here in Canada,” Damoff said, after referencing the two previous assassination attempts on former U.S. president Donald Trump.
There has been an increase in protesters demonstrating outside Parliament Hill coinciding with the kick-off to the fall sitting of Parliament, many donning F*ck Trudeau flags and other signs echoing messages that were front and centre during the Freedom Convoy.
Tuesday’s incident is not the first time Singh has been insulted by hecklers and protestors, or the first time he’s confronted them.
Last August, he was quick to clap back at a drive-by heckler, inviting the man to "have a conversation" with him instead of shouting expletives out his car window.
Singh had been speaking about high food prices outside a grocery store in Newfoundland when a man in a black car pulled up next to him in the parking lot and shouted an expletive of a sexual nature about Singh and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
And a year before that, in May, Singh received a barrage of insults as he exited a campaign rally for a provincial election candidate, who was running in the Peterborough – Kawartha riding, in Ontario.
Several protesters yelled expletives at the NDP leader and called him a “traitor” as he made his way to his car.
With files from CTV News National Correspondent Rachel Aiello and CTV’s Question Period Senior Producer Brennan MacDonald
IN DEPTH
Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power.
'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold
Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
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.
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
Most Canadians support expansion of Old Age Security benefits: Nanos survey
Amid new polling indicating most Canadians support boosting Old Age Security (OAS) benefits by 10 per cent for seniors aged 65 to 74, a former Liberal finance minister and former Bank of Canada governor are warning the government not to pursue the policy change.
BREAKING Los Angeles prosecutors to review 1996 murder case of the Menendez brothers who killed their parents
Prosecutors in Los Angeles are reviewing new evidence in the case of the Menendez brothers, who were convicted of killing their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion more than 35 years ago, the city's district attorney said Thursday.
Health official confirms death of Ontario child following rabies diagnosis
An Ontario child has died after coming in contact with a rabid bat, a health official confirmed on Wednesday.
'You were innocent': Judge acquits Manitoba man 50 years after murder conviction
A Manitoba man convicted of murder 50 years ago has been acquitted. Clarence Woodhouse was found guilty in 1974 of fatally beating and stabbing a restaurant worker in downtown Winnipeg.
Mixed verdict for 3 Memphis officers convicted in Tyre Nichols' fatal beating
Three former Memphis police officers were convicted Thursday in the 2023 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, but were acquitted of the harshest charges they faced for a death that sparked national protests and calls for broad changes in policing.
Melania Trump says she supports abortion rights, putting her at odds with the GOP
Melania Trump revealed her support for abortion rights Thursday ahead of the release of her upcoming memoir, exposing a stark contrast with her husband, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, on the crucial election issue.
Defence minister says Israel has right to defend itself in 'proportional way'
Defence Minister Bill Blair says Israel has the right to defend itself in 'a calibrated and proportional way' following Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on Tuesday.
Breast cancer patient says she had to lie to get a mammogram in Ontario
When an Ontario doctor refused to sign off on a mammogram for 38-year-old Sidra Lone, the mother of four says she was left with no choice but to lie.
TikTok content creator arrested in murder case of Baton Rouge therapist
A TikTok content creator was arrested in Dallas this week and is facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of a Baton Rouge counsellor and life coach whose body was found on the side of a Louisiana highway over the weekend, law enforcement officials said Thursday.
Local Spotlight
Unknown Canadian soldier from First World War identified as Manitoba man
The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.
Canada's October temperatures set to teeter-totter due to record-breaking U.S. heat
Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north
New Westminster, B.C., aquatic facility named alongside Paris Olympic venue as world's most beautiful
What does New Westminster's təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.
'Thank you Kaye San': Last surviving member of Vancouver Asahi baseball team dies at 102
The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.
'Like going to a buffet with no one else in line': Housing sales stall in Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley
New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.
'Loving life and looking forward': Olympic medalist Alysha Newman ready to jump to new heights
On Saturday night at her parents’ home in Delaware, Ont. the Olympic bronze medallist in pole vault welcomed everyone who played a role in getting her to the podium in Paris.
After decades-long search, northern Ontario man finds vintage vehicle in Larder Lake
A tale about a taxicab hauling gold and sinking through the ice on Larder Lake, Ont., in December 1937 has captivated a man from that town for decades.
Breathtaking encounter with humpback whales captured by B.C. filmmakers
When a group of B.C. filmmakers set out on a small fishing boat near Powell River last week, they hoped to capture some video for a documentary on humpback whales. What happened next blew their minds.
'It's a big pizza': Edmonton pizzeria selling pie that can feed up to 60 people
A pizza chain in Edmonton claims to have the world's largest deliverable pizza.