Calgary Conservative candidate says she too is being targeted by aggressive election protestors
One Calgary candidate says the vitriol Liberal leader Justin Trudeau has been experiencing along the campaign trail isn't reserved for any one candidate or party.
Police had to get involved during a Trudeau stop-off in Ontario Sunday morning.
It's a sign of growing tensions across Canada as the federal vote draws closer -- and something Calgary Nose Hill candidate Michelle Rempel Garner says she knows about all too well.
In a statement posted after Friday's Liberal event cancellation, Rempel Garner said she's recently been cornered on the street and has received death threats online.
A recent video has even surfaced on social media showing the long-time politician and her husband confronted inside a restaurant booth.
Rempel Garner says it's just one example of less-than-ideal interactions with some members of the public.
"This sadly this is not 'super rare,'" her statement said. "It’s unfortunately an all too frequent occurrence for me and many of my colleagues, particularly women, of all political stripe. And this increase in violent language, threats, and abuse certainly isn't confined to politics.
"After some recent experiences, I know it's getting worse."
Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt says he thinks many of the protestors are upset over COVID-19 health restrictions and talk of mandatory vaccinations.
"These are people who have been protesting and demonstrating for about a year and a half across the country -- in some cases quite violently -- and now it's coming together during an election," Bratt said. "It's not one party, and the reason I say that is because the same protesters have attacked (Conservative premiers) Doug Ford and Jason Kenney. Not the same group of people, but the same concept has been going on," he said.
Support for both Rempel Garner and Trudeau has poured in from members of the public and from other candidates.
The former says action should be taken so political candidates are not in danger. She's calling for legislation that enhances the chance of prosecution for criminal harassment.
"We're dealing with a minority, but a very vocal minority that has been organizing," Bratt said.
Both politicians have recently enhanced their security.
Canadians go to the polls on Sept. 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
1 killed, 3 injured including toddler, after Hwy. 417 crash in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.