RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme proposed a new law to address threats against politicians more easily.

Duheme is requesting the government to draft a law that would allow the RCMP to easily press charges against those who threaten elected officials.

According to Duheme, there has been a significant increase in comments of threats and dissatisfaction with politicians made by the same individuals.

Frequently, the comments fail to meet the criteria outlined in the Criminal Code for pressing charges of uttering threats.

“So that’s sometimes a challenge,” Duheme said.

The commissioner is seeking a new tool that can be used to “address the situation” and potentially work with Public Safety Canada and the Department of Justice to amend the Criminal Code. 

“It’d be nice to see if we could look at that,” he said, adding, “People feel more free to express what they really think, which is a good thing, but it has to be done in a civil way.”

Comments are “misogynistic” and misinformed

Ontario Liberal MP Pam Damoff announced that due to “threats” and “misogyny” that made her fearful of the public, she would not be running in the next election. 

“The threats and misogyny I have experienced as a member of Parliament are such that I often fear going out in public, and that is not a sustainable or healthy way to live. Quite simply, politics is no longer for me and so it is time for me to turn the page on this chapter,” she said. 

A report released in March claims that threats against politicians have become “increasingly normalized” driven by extremist narratives, misinformation, and overall falsehoods. 

Duheme said situations like these are why amendments to the Criminal Code need to be made.