RCMP boss says Criminal Code should change to address threats against politicians

Currently, invective directed at politicians does not meet the Criminal Code threshold for laying a charge of uttering threats.

RCMP commissioner Mike Duheme says he wants the government to look at drafting a new law that would make it easier for police to pursue charges against people who threaten elected officials.

The Mounties are seeing an increase in invective directed at politicians, including comments from the same individuals on multiple occasions, Duheme said in an interview.

However, often the behaviour does not meet the Criminal Code threshold for laying a charge of uttering threats.

“So that’s sometimes a challenge,” Duheme said.

“But are there other tools that we can use? Is there anything else that we could add to the Criminal Code that … can address the situation?”

Duheme said the RCMP hopes to work with Public Safety Canada and the Department of Justice on the possibility of a new provision to address the phenomenon.

“It’d be nice to see if we could look at that,” he said.

“People feel more free to express what they really think, which is a good thing, but it has to be done in a in a civil way. Every elected official has a right to feel secure in doing their job.”