22 election candidates were provided private security by the federal government
OTTAWA — The federal government provided private security for close protection or to guard the home of 22 candidates in the last federal election amid a rise in threats and intimidation towards politicians.
Throughout the campaign, 15 candidates were granted private security service that acted as their bodyguard during campaign events or daily activities, Privy Council Office (PCO) spokesperson Daniel Savoie told National Post.
Another two were provided home monitoring services by an unarmed guard, while five met the threshold to receive both services, Savoie said.
This was the first federal election during which the federal government offered private security services to candidates. The program was geared toward politicians who believe their security is at risk during the campaign but where the level of threat does not meet the threshold for police protection.
To be eligible, candidates had to have been physically attacked, had their property targeted by protesters or vandalized, felt threatened by a “disruptive, uninvited individual” at home, or had their personal information posted on the internet, for example.
Former CSIS national security analyst Stephanie Carvin said she was surprised by how many candidates applied to receive additional private security from a program that was announced right as the election campaign began.
“I’m glad that resource is there, but it’s unfortunate that it’s needed,” said Carvin, now an associate professor at Carleton University.
“Individuals who are upset with the politics or politicians are increasingly willing to physically confront the people they see as adversaries or with different point of views. Rather than challenging their ideas, they want to physically confront them,” Carvin added.
Savoie declined to identify which candidates were granted additional security or which party they represented over concerns it could compromise their safety.
But he noted that half (11) were candidates in Ontario, five were in Quebec, four in B.C. and one in both Manitoba and Nova Scotia.
Violence, intimidation and threats were the first concerns highlighted by the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force during a briefing days after the election was called on March 28.
“One concerning trend is the intensification and rise of threats of violence and intimidation directed at Canadian public figures,” said the government’s top communications official Laurie-Anne Kempton on March 31.
“Candidates and public office holders should not be dissuaded from exercising their democratic rights because of a perceived or real threat to their personal security,” she added. “It is in Canada’s vital national interest that Canadians running for elected office feel safe.”
The RCMP’s Gregory O’Hayon said during the same briefing the national police force is “very well seized” of the issue of threats to candidates but its protective mandate is limited to members of cabinet, party leaders and a few others designated for protection by the minister of public safety.
“The RCMP unfortunately cannot be everywhere, all at once,” O’Hayon said.
The national police force has previously said it is dealing with an “unprecedented” number of threats towards politicians.
Roughly three years ago, MPs were offered mobile duress buttons, or “panic buttons,” in case they were accosted by a threatening individual. That program has since been extended to senators.
On Friday, Carvin said there is increased risk that politicians become more separated from the people they serve as threats increase against them.
“In order to get elected, they have to be able to meet people, they have to be able to mingle. And if, you know, our politicians become separate from the population, it just doesn’t work,” Carvin said.
“It’s the door knocking, it’s the events, the campaigning and things like that that make our democracy function.”
During the last campaign, Elections Canada also increased availability of security at polling locations in light of ongoing “tensions” caused by the Israel-Hamas conflict and the historic trade war with the United States.
Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault told reporters on March 24 that the agency proactively pre-approved security spending for returning officers (who administer the elections in each of the 343 federal ridings) to protect polling locations and offices if needed.
That’s a change from previous elections, where returning officers had to request approval for security expenses as the needs arose, which slowed down the process.
National Post
cnardi@postmedia.com
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