Minister says MPs in Canada will be given panic buttons in the face of threats

Key Takeaways:

• MPs are being provided panic buttons to boost their security following repeated threats and rising worries over harassment of Parliamentarians.
• One of the approaches being used to strengthen MP protection is panic buttons, often known as "mobile duress alarms."
• During an election campaign event, a handful of gravel was thrown at Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau outside a political rally.

Following several threats and mounting concerns about harassment of Parliamentarians, MPs are being issued panic buttons to bolster their security.

After presenting a measure restricting gun ownership, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said in an interview that he had received death threats on social media in recent weeks.

After a series of threats and frightening acts, Mendicino said he, the police, and Parliamentary Protective Services are reassessing the security of MPs.

Last month, during an Ontario election period tour, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh was verbally harassed.

As he exited the campaign office, protesters can be heard shouting expletives at him and calling him a "traitor" as he got into a vehicle, according to a video. Singh has described the incident in Peterborough, Ont., as one of the worst violent behavior, he has encountered in his political career.

Panic buttons, sometimes known as "mobile duress alarms," are one of the methods being implemented to improve MP protection. They can be carried around and immediately inform Parliamentary Protective Services or local police for a quick reaction if they are threatened.

In a presentation to Liberal MPs about enhanced security measures, the sergeant-at-arms strongly advised them to keep the emergency button with them "at all times."

MPs will also have the opportunity to have the security at their constituency offices and houses inspected and, if necessary, alarms, panic buttons, cameras, and other security measures installed.

"Ensure that all lawmakers have the security that they require," stated the public safety minister, as part of his mission.

He claimed that MPs are receiving the help they require and that he and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc were "constantly reassessing the risk to parliamentarians" in collaboration with law enforcement, the sergeant-at-arms, and Parliamentary Protective Services.

The security assessment comes after several threats and incidents against MPs during the previous year. A handful of gravel was thrown at Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau outside a political rally during an election campaign event.

After submitting a bill in Parliament last month introducing firearms limits to reduce gun violence, Mendicino claims he received a lot of death threats on Instagram.

"Somebody's going to shoot you to death," according to a message from an account called "elite terrorist," as well as another death threat with a disparaging epithet for someone of Italian origin.

Instagram announced late Monday that the account had been deactivated due to violating its bullying and harassment policies.

"We evaluated the account and terminated it for breaking our Community Standards," Instagram spokesman David Troya-Alvarez said.

Mendicino stated, "Threats, even death threats, have no place in this debate."

"We must have robust debates about this, but we do it civilly, free of the threats, intimidation, and outright criminal behavior we're seeing increasingly online."

He said people who try to intimidate and threaten others must be held accountable, or free expression would be stifled, "and that is a threat to our democracy."

"We will undoubtedly continue to flag those criminal posts to the platforms," he stated, adding that they should face substantial consequences, such as being expelled from platforms, rather than just having their posts removed.

Instagram did not respond to a request for comment right away.