Canada MPs given panic buttons as threats increase
Canada's members of parliament will be given panic buttons to call police in an emergency, amid growing harassment, intimidation and threats of violence. The move was announced by Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino who has himself received death threats. The "very negative and toxic rhetoric that we see online" was very concerning, he said.
The move was announced by Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino who has himself received death threats.
The "very negative and toxic rhetoric that we see online" was very concerning, he said.
Canada's MPs have also been threatened on the streets and last year PM Justin Trudeau was pelted with rocks.
Mr Mendicino, who said he was threatened last month after introducing a gun control bill in parliament, said the mobile alarms would add another layer of security for politicians.
MPs are also being offered cameras, alarms and other security measures to be installed in their homes, and training on how to de-escalate potentially violent situations.
"We need to have a space where we can have vigorous debates without seeing the level of vitriol and near physical confrontation and out and out incitement to violence and death threats," Mr Mendicino said.
Several politicians have previously criticised the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which is in charge of their safety, for not taking their concerns seriously.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61890453