Postmedia News - Yesterday
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh
Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh responded admirably to an ugly incident outside the office of Ontario NDP candidate Jen Deck in Peterborough on Tuesday.
When he visited her to support her campaign, he was surrounded by a small group of protesters yelling at him that he was a “traitor,” a “liar” and that he wasn’t welcome in the city, along with swearing at him and using obscene gestures.
While describing it as one of his “worst experiences” in politics — noting, “some folks were saying ‘hope you die’ and things along that nature” — he sought to defuse tensions rather than escalate them.
In a tweet referring to what happened Singh wrote:
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me after yesterday’s incident in Peterborough.
“To those who have asked, I’m in Chardi Kala — rising spirits.
When he visited her to support her campaign, he was surrounded by a small group of protesters yelling at him that he was a “traitor,” a “liar” and that he wasn’t welcome in the city, along with swearing at him and using obscene gestures.
While describing it as one of his “worst experiences” in politics — noting, “some folks were saying ‘hope you die’ and things along that nature” — he sought to defuse tensions rather than escalate them.
In a tweet referring to what happened Singh wrote:
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me after yesterday’s incident in Peterborough.
“To those who have asked, I’m in Chardi Kala — rising spirits.
“I want to especially say to the people of Peterborough — I have visited many times and I know your community is filled with good people who want the best for each other … Peterborough, I love you. Don’t worry — I’ll (be) back.”
Perhaps he was mindful of a recent story in the Peterborough Examiner noting the city in 2020, “had the highest rate per capita of police-reported hate crimes of all census metropolitan areas in the country … according to new data from Statistics Canada, with local rates far outstripping those of big cities such as Toronto and Montreal.”
Whether he was, Singh showed how to de-escalate political tensions, correctly noting “polarization and disinformation are real dangers to our society.
“While disagreements are fundamental to a thriving democracy,” he wrote, “hatred, violence and wishing death upon others threaten it.”
We understand many Canadians are angry about the deal he made with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to keep the Liberals in power until 2025. We’re not fans of it, either.
But it is irresponsible and dangerous to suggest Singh is a “traitor” for having done so. His agreement with Trudeau is constitutional. Similar deals have been made in the past — including in Ontario.
We also agree with Singh’s caution to politicians that they “must remember the consequences when they stoke fear and division.”
We’d simply add that applies equally to government and opposition MPs, at every level, including party leaders.
Perhaps he was mindful of a recent story in the Peterborough Examiner noting the city in 2020, “had the highest rate per capita of police-reported hate crimes of all census metropolitan areas in the country … according to new data from Statistics Canada, with local rates far outstripping those of big cities such as Toronto and Montreal.”
Whether he was, Singh showed how to de-escalate political tensions, correctly noting “polarization and disinformation are real dangers to our society.
“While disagreements are fundamental to a thriving democracy,” he wrote, “hatred, violence and wishing death upon others threaten it.”
We understand many Canadians are angry about the deal he made with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to keep the Liberals in power until 2025. We’re not fans of it, either.
But it is irresponsible and dangerous to suggest Singh is a “traitor” for having done so. His agreement with Trudeau is constitutional. Similar deals have been made in the past — including in Ontario.
We also agree with Singh’s caution to politicians that they “must remember the consequences when they stoke fear and division.”
We’d simply add that applies equally to government and opposition MPs, at every level, including party leaders.
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