Two Alberta Men Charged with Online Threats Against PM Trudeau

A 67-year-old man from Edmonton has been charged with allegedly making threats to kill Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, and New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh.

According to an RCMP news release on Monday, the man faces three counts under the Criminal Code for uttering threats against a person.

The threats, reportedly made by a user on a YouTube account, were brought to the attention of the RCMP Federal Policing Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) on June 7. Following an investigation, the man was charged on June 13 and is set to appear in an Edmonton court this Thursday.

In a separate incident, a 23-year-old man from Calgary was charged on June 6 for allegedly posting threats to kill Prime Minister Trudeau on X, previously known as Twitter. He is expected to appear in a Calgary courtroom on Tuesday.

“In the digital age, where so many interactions occur online and are perceived to be anonymous, there is a belief that virtual actions and words do not have consequences,” said Insp. Matthew Johnson, acting head of the northwest region’s INSET team, in the release. “When these virtual actions or words cross the boundaries of Charter-protected speech and constitute criminal activity, police will investigate thoroughly to hold those responsible accountable.”

The RCMP emphasized in the news release that the security environment for public figures is evolving both within Canada and internationally, underscoring the need for increased vigilance.

This is not an isolated incident. In February, a man from Montreal was also charged with uttering threats against Trudeau. The House of Commons sergeant-at-arms reported in May that harassment of MPs has surged by nearly 800 percent over the past five years. Additionally, the RCMP assistant commissioner overseeing protective policing noted that the number of MPs requesting protection has almost doubled since 2018.

These incidents highlight the growing concerns around the safety of public figures in Canada, with law enforcement agencies committed to addressing and mitigating these threats.