Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is escorted by his RCMP security detail as protesters shout and throw rocks while leaving a campaign stop at a local microbrewery during the Canadian federal election campaign in London Ont., on Sept. 6, 2021.Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press
Catherine McKenna knows what it’s like to deal with harassment as a politician. When she was a cabinet minister from 2015 to 2021, especially in the environment and climate change portfolio, she sometimes required and received an RCMP security detail.
She faced harassment both online and in person. In 2019, she spoke out about being confronted by a person who hurled insults at her while she was outside a movie theatre with her children.
Ms. McKenna also estimates that over the years as a politician, she spent tens of thousands of dollars of her own money for security.
“We need good people to run, and people are entitled to feel safe,” she said in an interview. “It is something that is a real concern, and it’s having a real impact on good people stepping up.”
The 2021 federal election campaign – held during the COVID-19 pandemic – was particularly volatile, with large, sometimes vitriolic demonstrations and violent incidents, including a man throwing gravel at then-Liberal leader Justin Trudeau. For this campaign, Elections Canada is changing how candidates can get reimbursed for security if they pay for it themselves.
Security expenses for candidates and their families were previously listed as personal expenses under a subcategory called “other” with up to $200 reimbursable at 60 per cent. Now they fall under a new personal security expenses category and up to $5,000 is reimbursable at 60 per cent. There are no restrictions on where the funding comes from.
Over that amount, expenses are not reimbursable and must be paid either through a campaign bank account or received as a non-monetary contribution from a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, up to their contribution limit.
Chief Electoral Officer Stéphane Perrault said the cap is not meant to limit the amount of money that can be spent on security for individual candidates, but to set a limit on how much is reimbursable and where the money can come from.
Candidates can use the money for a wide variety of security measures, from home alarms to security at events.
Former national security and intelligence adviser Jody Thomas said that, for large events, the RCMP and local police work to ensure the venue is safe, including screening attendees. But that’s not possible for every local event, she said.
Canada needs to work more with local police to “sensitize them to the risks” facing candidates, she said, though forces may not have the capacity to deal with it. Threats are not only coming at events, but at grocery stores, while door-knocking and even while walking down the street.
Nickel Belt Liberal incumbent Marc Serré agrees local police need more support. While they have been responsive to his concerns, he said he’s not sure if they followed up with people causing the problems.
Mr. Serré was assaulted by a woman at his campaign office during the 2021 campaign. Several weeks ago, he said his home address was shared online to encourage people to protest there. His signs have also been burned in the past, he said, and bullets have been shot through his face on them.
“It’s intimidation,” he said, but he’s still running. “I think the person that’s more worried is my 80-year-old mom.”
Edmonton Centre NDP candidate Trisha Estabrooks, a former school board trustee, said that her campaign has protocols to check in when teams are going out door-knocking, and they never go out alone. Security issues were considered but did not stop her from running, she said.
RCMP spokesperson Robin Percival said the agency provides protective services to leaders of all parties recognized in the House of Commons during election campaigns, and it is determined based on threat assessments, continuing security considerations and other factors.
For safety reasons, “the RCMP does not disclose information about protective measures, tactics nor the number of personnel assigned to any protectee,” she said, and they work with local police as well as federal and provincial partners.
Liberal Party spokesperson Matteo Rossi said while the party doesn’t comment on specific security precautions, it gives training to teams. Conservative Party spokesperson Sam Lilly said they take the safety of all Canadians seriously, but don’t comment on internal security related matters. Green Party spokesperson Rod Leggett said teams have easy access to the party’s headquarters, which can deal with crisis situations. They also have a crisis line people can call if they face a challenging situation at a personal level, he said.
The NDP didn’t respond when asked how they keep their candidates safe.