Manitoba politicians reflect on security in wake of Trump assassination attempt

Posted on July 17, 2024 by Peggy

The attempted assassination of Donald Trump in the U.S. on the weekend is encouraging Manitoba’s elected officials to reflect on security measures.

Ben Carr, member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre, said there’s been a lot of discussion about how political or public figures are being targeted in new and more intense ways.

“There are always forms of correspondence that come in that can be questionable,” he told CBC on Tuesday.

“We’ve got security measures in place at our office, as do the vast majority of members of Parliament across the country, in order to make sure that first and foremost, our staff are protected and that the people that we’re serving in any given moment in time are protected.”

In May, Patrick McDonell, sergeant-at-arms and corporate security officer for the House of Parliament, said the harassment MPs experience from the public has jumped almost 800 per cent in the last five years.

Liberal member of Parliament Ben Carr arrives for a caucus meeting — Liberal MP Ben Carr says members of Parliament of all political stripes have been threatened. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Carr, who chairs the standing committee on procedure and House affairs, said they’ve discussed recent threats to members of Parliament at several meetings.

“There were some very concerning and pretty moving testimony on the part of members of Parliament from all political stripes that speak to the degree of this problem and the extent to which we have to address it and be aware of it,” Carr said.

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen said anybody who’s been elected for a long time has received “threats of varying degrees.”

“Sometimes it’s very specific, in terms of the threats, and sometimes it’s where you feel a bit threatened, where you might be in a grocery store or at a sporting event, and somebody approaches you in an aggressive way,” said Goertzen, who in 2021 was the last premier of Manitoba to serve without security.

Engaging in threat assessments is part of the job for elected officials, but it’s concerning when threats extend to family, friends or other staff members, he said on Tuesday.

Goertzen thinks the frequency and intensity of threats has grown over the past few years for many different reasons, including social media, where users can hide behind anonymity.

A balding man with glasses wears a suit and collared shirt and speaks to the camera. — Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen says when it comes to being an elected official, engaging in threat assessments is part of the job. (CBC)

He also pointed to political messaging, saying elected officials bear some responsibility, because the language they use can directly influence others.

However, aggressively disagreeing with the government or the Opposition is also part of the democratic process, he said.

“That is actually important, but you can’t have something that reaches a boiling point and stays at a boiling point for a long period of time without there being repercussions,” Goertzen said.

“I think politics has been at a boiling point in Canada and the United States for quite a while now, and the temperature has to come down.”

Security measures have changed in Manitoba over his 21 years as an elected official.

Nobody at the Manitoba Legislative Building security desk was checking who was coming or going 20 years ago, he said.

Now visitors must check in, provide a reason for being there and identify themselves, which provides a layer of security for everyone in the building, he said.

The increase in obvious security measures, including operational changes, is a direct response to the reality of a society with more intense and frequent threats, he said.

Goertzen thinks the Manitoba Legislature offers a good balance between security that allows people to feel safe and public access to tourists or other visitors.

Premier Wab Kinew said on Monday that the attempted assassination has prompted a review of internal procedures.

There are no plans to change security measures at the legislative building, but people are being extra vigilant and thinking twice about what steps they have in place, he said.

In an emailed statement to CBC News, the City of Winnipeg said there have been changes made over the years to help ensure the safety of those working at or visiting city hall while maintaining public access.

“Currently both the council building and Susan A. Thompson Building have controlled public entrances, accessible by key card or by interacting with security personnel, who are positioned at the main courtyard entrances of both buildings,” the email says.

The city created a corporate security manager position this year, who oversees security operations and makes adjustments as needed.