Prime Minister Cancels Plans To Appear At B.C. Liberal Fundraiser

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cancelled plans to appear in person at a Liberal fundraiser in British Columbia Tuesday after RCMP warned an aggressive protest outside the event could escalate if he arrived.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cancelled plans to appear in person at a Liberal fundraiser in British Columbia Tuesday after RCMP warned an aggressive protest outside the event could escalate if he arrived.

Trudeau addressed the issue Wednesday during a stop in Saskatoon, which was also attended by protesters who were verbally aggressive with the prime minister’s RCMP protective detail and initially blocked his exit from a local senior’s centre.

The prime minister did not explain why he chose to speak virtually to the fundraiser in Surrey, B.C., but expressed disgust at the “harassment, racist insults (and) threats of violence” targeting the mostly South Asian attendees as they arrived.

Witnesses at the protest reported hearing attendees harassed for wearing turbans, among other racially motivated insults.

One protester was seen in a photo carrying a noose hanging from two flat sticks printed with the words “treason” and “Trudeau.”

Trudeau said all levels of government are currently looking at the issue.

This is the second time in 10 months aggressive protesters prompted police to advise Trudeau to change his plan to speak at an event.

An access to information request released by the Privy Council Office shows between Feb. 5 and March 23, 26 threats were logged against Trudeau and eight of his cabinet ministers. Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland were each the subject of nine threats during that period.

RCMP in B.C. said in a statement about Tuesday’s event that the protest group started off small but grew in number and were joined by cars, larger trucks and vehicles towing trailers “travelling in a convoy-style loop around the roadway.”

Due the size and composition of the protest group and for the safety of everyone in attendance, a decision was made that it was not safe for the prime minister to attend the location.