RCMP following up after Singh met by protesters in Peterborough

The RCMP is “following up” on the protest that met federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh as he exited a rally at the campaign office of Peterborough-Kawartha NDP candidate Jen Deck on Tuesday.

RCMP Deputy Commissioner Michael Duheme told the House of Commons’ public safety committee in Ottawa on Thursday that he’s aware of the incident and that the Mounties are looking into it.

“I did find out about this. We are following up on it. It’s unacceptable, it’s not the first time (this has happened to Singh)… We’re following up on it to determine what can be done,” Duheme said, in a meeting that is available for viewing via webcast.

The protest occurred as Singh left a rally at Deck’s George Street campaign office, to be met with protesters who were yelling “traitor” at him. Some yelled, “I hope you die!”

The protesters included many local people who’ve been vocal in their objections to COVID-19 safety measures and vaccines.

It was mentioned at the Ottawa committee meeting that there have been prior incidents of harassment against Singh, including one where someone attempted to make a citizen’s arrest against him on Parliament Hill in 2020.

People at the protest in Peterborough on Tuesday used coarse language and gestures as they surrounded Singh, who was leaving the campaign office to get into a waiting SUV.

Singh later told reporters in a news conference in Ottawa that the scene was very “aggressive,” and “violent,” and that it ranks among the “worst experiences” of his political life.

Peterborough Police said on Thursday they’d received a complaint about the incident and were investigating.

They hadn’t been called to the scene on Tuesday, they said earlier this week, but later contacted Singh.

Several videos of the protest have emerged on social media, as well as another video from earlier in the week where Peterburgers restaurant owners Roy Asselstine and Nicole Comber promote the forthcoming protest and invite people to attend.

Peterburgers on George Street North was shut down late last year by health authorities after the owners refused to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines; the restaurant reopened in April.

Duheme said at the meeting Thursday that the RCMP does speak with party leaders regularly about threatening behaviour against them.

“When we do have a file with regards to potential threats, be it online or via phone or directly, we do engage with Prosecutions Services Canada to discuss the file and see if we’ve met the threshold (for criminal charges). It is a challenge, I can say from the RCMP perspective,” Duheme said in the webcast.

joelle.kovach@peterboroughdaily.com

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