The RCMP now says it is investigating an incident involving Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland during her trip to Grande Prairie. Videos posted on social media last Friday show a man approaching her at city hall, calling her a traitor and telling her to leave the province.
Police have confirmed to MyGrandePrairieNow.com that the incident is being investigated locally through the General Investigation Section. RCMP spokesperson Robin Percival says in a statement that physical or verbal actions in person or online can have significant effects and may be against the law.
Freeland was in the city on August 26th. She met with representatives of UFA and Northwestern Polytechnic, as well as Mayor Jackie Clayton. A stop at city hall was not on her official itinerary.
Clayton responded with a video message, calling it a “disgusting display of hatred and abuse”. Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino has said the federal government is considering ways of providing protection for cabinet ministers, saying there’s no place for this kind of harassment and intimidation.