Official fears ‘somebody’s going to get shot’ during fall election campaign

| February 21, 2019 in National News

Local Community Advertising

The ugly political tension that highlighted America’s 2016 election campaign could cross borders this fall.  

On Thursday, Canada’s top public servant expressed deep concerns that a candidate will be assassinated while campaigning in Canada’s federal election this fall.

Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick told the House of Commons justice committee that a “disturbing tenor” has engulfed the overall state of public political dialogue.

“I worry about the rising tide of incitements to violence when people use terms like ‘treason’ and ‘traitor’ in open discourse. Those are the words that lead to assassination,” Wernick told the MPs.

“I’m worried that somebody’s going to be shot in this country this year during the political campaign.”

Wernick also called out “trolling” culture on the “vomitorium” of social media that has become popular in movements such as the yellow-vest group.

With files from the Canadian Press.

Local Community Advertising

Trending Stories

UPDATE: Missing 29-year-old woman found, BC RCMP say

Special weather statement issued for BC Interior highways

VIDEO: Shock and disappointment over Kelowna council shake-up

Owners of Kelowna pizza restaurant avoid hefty penalty from liquor branch

UPDATE: Girls, 13 and 14, charged with second-degree murder in Manitoba

Tom Dyas: We need to come to terms with the fact that Kelowna can't solve homelessness alone

Police find man dead in charred wreckage 3 months after fire

Woman goes missing in BC after recently arriving from Alberta