Deputy Premier Chrystia Freeland says she loves her home province of Alberta and the world needs to know it’s a welcoming country.
Her comment Wednesday in Calgary comes after she was subjected to a profane tirade while in Grande Prairie, Alta., on Friday.
A video posted on Twitter by an account expressing opposition to the COVID-19 public health measures shows Freeland entering an elevator as a man approaches her, hurling abuse and calling her a traitor.
The man in the video appears in front of the open elevator doors and tells Freeland to leave Alberta, while a woman tells him, “You don’t belong here.”
Freeland, after visiting a transportation facility, said it’s important for people to know what happened was wrong.
She called it an “unpleasant incident” but one that “in no way overshadows the warmth of the reception I have received.”
She said Alberta is a warm, kind and diverse province.
“This is the Alberta I grew up in … this is the Alberta I visited last week.”
Freeland received support from one of her hosts at the press conference, Trevor Fridfinnson, chief operating officer at Bison Transport.
“Regarding trends of lack of civility by and towards those in public life must be kept in check and the best way to do this is to stand up against the kind of activity that only comes from a misguided minority,” he said.
Most bitter, aggressive political debate: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau again weighed in on the confrontation, saying the debate over whether there should be more security for elected officials has been going on for years.
“As a Canadian leader, politician or ordinary citizen, we are quite proud of the fact that we do not need the level of security that is required in the United States or elsewhere in the world,” Trudeau said in Ottawa after a cabinet reshuffle. .
“We understand that the political debate is becoming more and more fierce in this country, more aggressive. Citizens, as we see unfortunately, some of them feel free to offer threats, especially against women, women in power.”
Mounties said they are investigating the confrontation in Grande Prairie.
According to RCMP regulations, MPs can obtain the protection of officers in Canada and abroad as needed. Freeland said she follows RCMP advice for her own safety.
She said she realizes she’s not the only one being bullied.
“People who are members of a visible minority and women are perhaps particularly vulnerable,” she said.
“I am aware that there are many journalists and politicians across the country who have far less support than I do who may face challenging situations and it is important that we all support them.”
Member of Parliament Filomena Tassi, minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, said it is not reasonable for her to have security around the clock and she has changed her behavior.
She said politicians need to stop with insults and low blows and all Canadians need to speak up on this issue.
“If Canadians don’t engage in this dialogue, it’s going to get worse and escalate,” she said.
“We’re not going to have people entering political life, serving as journalists, because they fear for themselves, and perhaps more seriously, they’re worried about the safety of their family.”
