Freeland makes a rally-like stop in Calgary after a verbal confrontation in northern Alberta

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Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland made a stop in Calgary on Tuesday night as the RCMP announced they are investigating an “incident” in which she was verbally accosted in a videotaped altercation last week.

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Freeland joined Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal Tuesday night at a private event at a downtown Calgary bar where a house packed with liberal supporters, many dressed in red clothing or buttons and bearing liberal campaign slogans, they gathered to listen to a short speech and to have the opportunity. to meet the high-ranking politician.

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“I’m really grateful to the farmers of Alberta, the skilled tradesmen of Alberta, the engineers of Alberta, the mayors of Alberta that I’ve met with over the past week,” Freeland said to a loud cheer from the crowd. “I know and love and everyone here today knows and loves (Alberta) is full of warm and decent, profoundly decent, welcoming people and one incident is not going to change that.”

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The event came days after video emerged of a man in Grande Prairie approaching Freeland and yelling at her, telling her she was not welcome in Alberta. The man hurled profanity at her and called her a “traitor” as she entered an elevator while an off-screen woman told him she didn’t belong in Alberta.

RCMP has since confirmed that they are investigating the incident. In a statement, RCMP spokeswoman Robin Percival said physical or verbal actions in person or online can have significant effects and may be illegal.

She said that when the threshold for a criminal charge is reached, the RCMP or jurisdiction police can arrest and charge. If the criminal threshold is not met, the RCMP examines the threats and derogatory comments from an intelligence perspective.

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Parliamentarians can receive RCMP protection in Canada and abroad as needed.

Calgary police were seen outside the venue Tuesday night and there was plainclothes security inside the event. A handful of protesters were seen around the venue.

Freeland said multiple times that she was grateful for the warm welcome she received Tuesday night inside the standing room only bar. She outlined a series of liberal initiatives that she said she is proud to have brought to Alberta and urged supporters in the crowd to continue talking to her neighbors and work to get more of her party into office. .

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“I am very proud to be a daughter of Alberta,” Freeland said. “I want the whole country, I want the whole world to know how great Alberta is.”

Chahal is the only Liberal MP elected from a Calgary riding. Randy Boissonnault, MP Edmonton Centre, is the other member of the Alberta Liberal Caucus.

Menno Klassen was present on Tuesday night. He said the large turnout is a good sign for Alberta, as it shows Albertans are open to discussion and not just willing to have representatives from one party.

“This was a real turnout because Freeland is from Alberta, people support Albertans. They’ll like that if you’re from Alberta, we’ll give you a shot,” Klassen said. “I think this event is very good for Calgary, because it shows that we care about politics. We like the debate, we don’t want a single color”.

— With Canadian Press archives

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