Liberal MPs Pam Damoff and Iqra Khalid testified before a parliamentary committee on Thursday, sharing disturbing examples of threatening abuse they have received from the public. They claim that some of this abuse was a direct result of messaging by Conservative MPs, prompting calls for an expansion of the House harassment policy to hold MPs accountable for their public messaging.
Damoff and Khalid read out harassing messages that contained insulting, vulgar, and violent language, including threats to their lives and sexually explicit content. They highlighted incidents where Conservative MPs’ public statements led to an influx of hate and abuse directed towards them.
The issue of online harassment faced by MPs has seen a significant increase in recent years, with incidents rising by 700 to 800 per cent, according to House of Commons sergeant-at-arms Patrick McDonell. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the abuse faced by elected officials, calling it “unacceptable” and warning against the toxic atmosphere of polarization and misinformation in Canadian politics.
Damoff specifically pointed to a tweet by Conservative MP Blaine Calkins in 2023 as a catalyst for a surge in hate towards her. The tweet misrepresented her comments during a committee debate and led to a barrage of abusive messages. Similarly, Khalid shared her experience of receiving death threats after introducing a motion condemning Islamophobia, blaming Conservative MPs for inciting aggression.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s spokesperson dismissed the notion that legitimate criticism could be linked to online harassment, calling it a baseless attack. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner acknowledged the unacceptable nature of the abuse faced by Liberal MPs but emphasized the need for a solution that extends beyond partisan lines and includes all Canadians.
The testimony from Damoff and Khalid sheds light on the disturbing reality of online harassment faced by elected officials and the urgent need for measures to address and prevent such abuse. As the debate continues on how to tackle this issue, the focus remains on creating a safer and more respectful environment for all individuals involved in Canadian politics.