Commons planning new security measures as MPs report threats of violence
Sources say many threats directed at MPs have never been made public
The House of Commons is getting ready to boostsecurity measures for MPs outside of the parliamentary precinct in response to growingconcerns about the risk of political violence, sources tellRadio-Canada.
The move comes after a series of incidents raised red flags with federal elected officials including an attempt at asidewalk "citizen's arrest" ofNDP Leader Jagmeet Singh inOttawa in late September and the case of Corey Hurren, aManitoba man who faces 21 weapons charges andone charge of threatening the prime minister related to an incident in Julyat Rideau Hall.
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MPs on both sides of the aisle are reportinggrowing numbers of online threats. Sources said that many security threats directed atMPs have never been made public.
Sources saidnew security measures are being discussed by the RCMP, the Parliamentary Protective Service and the House of Commons'Board of Internal Economy, which has representatives of allrecognized parties in theCommons.
The new measures are intended to extend protectionto MPswhen they're not onParliament Hillin their private residences or during public appearances. A source said the measures would be offered to all MPs, with an opting-out provision.
The currentplan is to offer MPs home security systems and some sort of "panic button" service that would allow them to summon help wherever they are.
Enhanced security for ministers, party leaders
As it stands, MPs typically have to make a request for security to the RCMP, which then evaluates the threat level. The new measureslikely will fall under the authority of theParliamentary Protective Service, which was created after gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau killed Cpl.Nathan Cirilloat the Canadian National War Memorial in Ottawa before dying in a gun battle with security personnel at Parliament's Centre Block building onOct. 22, 2014.
Heather Bradley, a spokesperson for the Speaker of the House, confirmed that "additional security support for members [of Parliament] focusing on their safety outside of the precinct" has been approved by the Board of Internal Economy. She added that the measures are based on "industry best practices and consultation with our security partners"but didn'tofferdetails.
Sources also said discussions are ongoing at the federal levelabout improvedprotective services for ministers and opposition party leaders, which likely wouldfall tothe RCMP.
Prime ministers and their families receive constant RCMPprotection,while opposition party leaders only receiveprotective servicesduring election campaigns.
Federal ministers don't receive RCMP protection on a regular basisand are usually accompanied onlyby political staffers during public appearances.Provincialministers in Quebec, on the other hand, are alwaysaccompanied byarmed drivers who actas bodyguards.
A rising threat level
Sources from a number of federal parties said the new measures are a response to a growing threat level for MPs fuelled by publicanxiety over thepandemic and anincreasingly tense and polarized political climate.
Women in politicsare frequent targets for onlinethreats and insults. Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna'sriding office was vandalized last year,while Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner has reported receiving threats of violence online.
Disagree with my policy, call me names. I draw the line at threats of violence, and report anything that falls into that category to the RCMP, which I have done in this case.
—@MichelleRempelBloc Qubcois MPsreportedreceiving a large number of threats in June during adebate over systemic racism in the RCMP after Singh accused a senior Bloc MP of being racist by opposing a motion on the issue.
On July 2, an armed intruder smashed his truck through one of the gates at Rideau Hall and subsequently made his way close to the official residences of Gov.Gen.Julie Payette and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. While both individualsbenefit from existing protective services and neither theynor their families were on the grounds at the time the incident showed how easy it isforan armed persontoget close to top government officials.
In September, an individual approached a Radio-Canada reporter in downtown Ottawa and spoke of performinga "citizen's arrest".The following day, the same individual approached Singhon the street near the parliamentary precinct.
Source said these incidents were top-of-mind when the Board of Internal Economy discussed security issues during two in-camera meetings in October.
Last year, when he was still clerk of the Privy Council, Michael Wernick told a parliamentary committee that he was growing more and more alarmed about the threat ofpolitical violence in Canada, pointing to the growing use of words like "treason" and "traitor"in political discourse.
"Those are the words that lead to assassination," Wernick said. "I'm worried that somebody's going to get shot this year during the political campaign."
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