Evolution in Canadian political climate marked by significant shifts, decades following an incident where a Prime Minister was pelted with pie
In recent years, the threat landscape against Canadian politicians has significantly intensified. According to data from the Privy Council Office, the number of recorded threats against the prime minister and cabinet ministers has surged dramatically. In 2021, there were 40 threats, which rose to 311 in 2024[1][3].
This escalation is a stark contrast to past decades, where incidents such as Prime Minister Jean Chrétien being hit with a pie 25 years ago were seen as isolated pranks rather than serious threats[4][2]. Today, such acts are viewed far more seriously in the context of rising political hostility.
Politicians like Catherine McKenna, a former federal minister, have spoken out about the normalization of seeing political figures as "fair game" for threats. This climate, they argue, endangers the democratic process by discouraging civic participation and putting politicians and their families at risk[1][3].
The surge in threats reflects broader challenges facing Canadian democracy, including increasing polarization and security concerns. While Canada maintains a largely secular and multicultural political culture, contrasting with some international trends of politicized religious rhetoric, the rise in threats against politicians indicates a deteriorating atmosphere of political civility and safety[4][2].
Former RCMP officer Chris Mathers noted that Trudeau "always stayed in the box" during public appearances, while Chrétien often strayed from his protective perimeter[2]. This change in behaviour, Mathers suggested, could be a reflection of the changing social environment, leading to increased aggression and inappropriate behaviour towards public figures.
In response to the rising threats, calls for stronger security measures have grown louder. Former public safety minister Marco Mendicino called for the creation of "protective zones" around political constituency offices to shield members of Parliament and their staff[1]. McKenna, on the other hand, advocated for the government to pass online harms legislation and hold social media companies accountable for threats posted on their platforms[1].
In 2024, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme requested the government to consider drafting a new law to make it easier for police to pursue charges against people who threaten elected officials[1]. The RCMP works with various entities, including government officials, the House of Commons, constituency offices, and security officers for ministers, to complete risk assessments on individuals who threaten government officials online. If it is determined that the individual has the capacity to act on their threats or if there is a mental health issue at play, appropriate actions are taken[1].
Threats of violence against politicians have become far more common in Canada's security landscape. In the case of Trudeau, between 2021 and 2024, he was the subject of 90 threats of death[1]. These statistics underscore the urgent need for action to safeguard the safety of our political leaders and ensure the health of our democracy.
[1] CBC News. (2024). RCMP commissioner calls for new law to make it easier to charge people who threaten elected officials. [online] Available at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rcmp-threats-elected-officials-1.6706663 [Accessed 10 Mar. 2023].
[2] CBC News. (2022). Former RCMP officer says Trudeau's behaviour during public appearances differs from Chrétien's. [online] Available at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-chrétien-rcmp-officer-1.6417861 [Accessed 10 Mar. 2023].
[3] McKenna, C. (2023). Threats against politicians are harmful to the health of our democracy. [online] The Globe and Mail. Available at: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-threats-against-politicians-are-harmful-to-the-health-of-our-democracy/ [Accessed 10 Mar. 2023].
[4] CBC News. (2021). P.E.I. pie incident: 25 years later, what happened to the man who threw a pie at Jean Chrétien. [online] Available at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-pie-incident-25-years-later-what-happened-to-the-man-who-threw-a-pie-at-jean-chr-tien-1.5896566 [Accessed 10 Mar. 2023].
- The rise in threats against Canadian politicians underscores the need for policy-and-legislation intervention, such as Marco Mendicino's proposal for protective zones around political constituency offices, McKenna's call for online harms legislation, and the RCMP Commissioner's request for a new law to ease charges against threatening individuals.
- The normalization of threats against politicians, as Catherine McKenna and others argue, poses a danger to the health of Canada's democracy, discouraging civic participation and endangering politicians and their families in the process.
- In contrast to past decades where incidents like the infamous pie-throwing at Prime Minister Jean Chrétien were seen as isolated pranks, recent years have witnessed an escalation in threats against Canadian politicians, with Trudeau being the subject of 90 death threats between 2021 and 2024, turning general-news headlines into crime-and-justice stories.
