Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said Tuesday’s visit to Peterborough, Ontario, marred by assertive and aggressive protesters, was one of the “most intense, threatening and insulting” experiences of his political career.
Singh’s comments came during a news conference on Wednesday when he was asked about his visit to NDP provincial candidate Jen Deck’s campaign office, which he described as an “incredible event”.
However, Singh noted that as he walked in and out of the office on George Street, he was met with “some negativity”.
Social media videos show protesters approaching him, shouting vulgarities, repeatedly calling him a “liar” and a “traitor” and “unwelcome” as he got into a parked vehicle outside Deck’s office. Protesters had gathered outside the office for about an hour while Singh spoke to his supporters inside.
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“What we were dealing with was some people who were expressing their discontent with some of the positions that I have taken,” Singh said during a press conference in Ottawa. “But there were some people who were saying really bad things, some really horrible things. Some people said ‘I hope you die’ and things like that. A lot of aggression and violence in terms of behavior and attitude.”
He said the incident reminds him that there is polarization in Canadian politics.
“There is a level of polarization in politics that is worrying,” Singh said. “It shouldn’t be that someone has to be physically trained in martial arts and be able to deal with conflict to be a politician. I think it’s absolutely necessary for people to express their dissatisfaction: to disagree with something, to think that it’s really horrible that someone is passing a particular law or that the impact will hurt their families.
“What we’re seeing is that instead of saying ‘I don’t like what you’re doing’ or ‘I don’t agree with your decision,’ we’re getting ‘I want you to die’ or ‘I hope you die.’ And I think clearly, people who see this at home will say there’s something wrong with that.”
Singh noted that it is a “tiny minority” and that there are some people, including politicians, who are “fueling this kind of polarization,” but did not identify anyone specifically. He said taking disagreements to “this level” doesn’t help the community.
“We should be able to disagree as a society, respectfully, maybe even angrily, but it doesn’t have to get to the point where it becomes so polarized that people’s safety may be at risk and people feel these kinds of threats.” he said.
Singh said Thursday that he remains concerned about the safety of his staff, saying they are “concerned.”
“For me personally and for my staff, I will say that it was one of the most intense, threatening, insulting and physically, that feeling of intense threat,” he told the House of Commons. “I’m not personally surprised by that or concerned about that. I have experienced worse things in my life and I have experienced them regularly.
Among the crowd was Neil Sheard, the Peterborough resident who helped organize the recent “Rolling Thunder” rally in Ottawa, along with Roy Asselstine and Nicole Comber, owners of the Peterburgers restaurant, which Peterborough Public Health closed in December 2021 for defying the provincial COVID. -19 policies.
The pair also spearhead Hold Fast, which describes itself as a grassroots movement “opposing the disastrous mandates being enacted by Canadian federal, provincial and municipal government agencies.”
Asselstine and Comber posted live streams of the protest on social media and previously called people to gather for the protest to give Singh a “warm welcome” and said that “the Liberal-NDP coalition is trying to destroy our country.”
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Singh also noted that politicians must remember the consequences when they “stoke fear and division,” but did not refer to any particular individual or party.
“Sadly, polarization and misinformation are real dangers to our society,” he wrote in a tweet Wednesday night. “While disagreement is fundamental to a thriving democracy, hate, violence and wishing others dead threaten it.”
In a tweet on Wednesday, the The Peterborough Police Service stated he was unaware of Singh’s visit to the city.
“Since learning about the event, officers have contacted Mr. Singh to discuss as there have been no calls for service,” police stated. “It is disheartening to hear that we know that most residents are respectful and that these few do not reflect our community.”
Singh said hate must be confronted to prevent it from spreading like wildfire.
“That’s why we always have to face it, giving it no room to take hold, no room to grow.”
Several politicians condemned the protesters’ actions, including Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien.
“I have been outspoken about condemning this senseless behavior,” she said in a tweet Wednesday night. “Hoping the men on the council will step up and show some leadership on this as well.”
In an interview Thursday, Peterborough-Kawartha Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri said she condemns hate speech and violence, in any form. She said that she spoke directly with Singh to express her concern about the incident.
“He is a federal leader and having him visit our city is wonderful,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that it’s the coverage and the news that’s happening because that’s not who we are as Peterboroughans.
“And I spoke directly to Jagmeet and said basically the same thing. And he said, ‘I know Peterborough is a good town.’ So it was good to hear.”
Ferreri acknowledged that protesting is “part of democracy” and that people have the right to express their concerns, but they do so with respect.
“But the reality is you can’t harass people, you can’t insult people,” he said. “Go after politics, make a constructive method to get involved in politics. Volunteer with the candidate you want to win; join the board of the party you want to participate in; Go be part of the action. I think these hateful protests give everyone a bad name.”
Ferreri noted that she and other political candidates have also faced personal attacks on social media.
“We need to set the tone that you can’t do this,” he said. “Exactly what Jagmeet said, I totally agree with him, you absolutely can be upset. It is passion that drives change and protest is valuable. But insulting people and death threats is unacceptable at all levels.”
Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath also denounced the protesters’ actions.
“Many times I have seen my friend Jagmeet Singh face hate gracefully, just as he and our candidate Jen Deck did in Peterborough,” he said. But they shouldn’t have to. They deserve to live and work freely, without intimidation.”
Conservative Party leadership candidate Scott Aitchison, MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, also said “vitriol is corrosive to our politics and bad for the country.”
“Bullying policy has no place in Canada,” he said. “Our leaders must work together to overcome these divisions, not fan the flames that divide us further.”
On Wednesday night, Singh thanked people for the outpouring of support, noting that he has visited Peterborough many times and has always been “well received”. He praised the community with “good people who want the best for each other.”
“Peterborough, I love you,” he concluded. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back.”
More to come.
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