With threats to members of Parliament reportedly having increased sharply in recent times – and with politicians at other levels of government also continuing to see harassing and sometimes threatening behaviour – it’s vital that all elected officials be protected.
Whether more can actually be done, particularly against those using social media to make threats, remains an open question. What is known is that men and women elected to public office in Alberta and Canada should be able to conduct and fulfil their duties in safety and security.
And voters should also be able to expect that the people they elect to public office will be able to represent them without having to deal with dangerous individuals and groups aiming to disrupt lawful activities.
RCMP commissioner Mike Duheme recently told a House committee that he would like to see the government consider drafting a new law that would make it easier for police to pursue charges against individuals who threaten elected officials.
“People feel more free to express what they really think, which is a good thing, but it has to be done in a civil way. Every elected official has a right to feel secure in doing their job,” he said.
While Alberta and Canada have so far been spared the extremist threats and harassment that have become commonplace in some other jurisdictions, it is nobody’s best interest to see such behaviour become acceptable here.
Residents should and must have the right to question and, if necessary, criticize their elected officials, both during and outside the election cycle.
At the same time, those critiques should always be made in a lawful and civil way, free from threats and harassment, whether it be at the municipal, provincial or federal level.
For their part, elected officials at all levels should always be open to hearing the concerns of their constituents and to act on those concerns if they are in the best interest of the community-at-large.
Dan Singleton is an editor with the Albertan.
