Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre lashed out at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a day after two separate protests in Montreal became violent Friday night.
Recommended Videos
Trudeau’s hometown was the sight of demonstrations for a second straight day, organized by the groups Divest for Palestine and the Convergence of Anti-Capitalist Struggles.
The city is hosting about 300 delegates from NATO members and partner countries over four days, where the discussion is expected to focus on Ukraine, climate change and the alliance’s future.
However, the pro-Palestinian and anti-NATO protesters converged and smashed windows, clashed with police and set two vehicles on fire, reports the Montreal Gazette. One person was seen setting fire to an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Three people were arrested, accused of assaulting and obstructing cops.
Trudeau said he condemned the violence in a statement released at noon on Saturday.
“What we saw on the streets of Montreal last night was appalling. Acts of antisemitism, intimidation, and violence must be condemned wherever we see them,” he wrote.
“The RCMP are in communication with local police. There must be consequences, and rioters held accountable.”
On social media, critics of Trudeau — including Poilievre — juxtaposed the Prime Minister, who was captured on video dancing at a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto, with images of the violent and antisemitic behaviour in Montreal.
“You act surprised. We are reaping what you sowed,” Poilievre began his response to Trudeau in a lengthy post on X.
“This is what happens when a Prime Minister spends nine years pushing toxic woke identity politics, dividing and subdividing people by race, gender, vaccine status, religion, region, age, wealth, etc.”
Poilievre continued, pointing out how the Prime Minister continues to drive people apart and “systematically break what used to bring us together, saying Canada is a ‘post-national state’ with ‘no core identity.’”
“You erased our veterans and military, the Famous Five and even Terry Fox from our passport to replace them with meaningless squirrels, snowflakes and a drawing of yourself swimming as a boy,” Poilievre added.
The Opposition Leader then turned to border security and rampant criminality affecting the country.
“You opened the borders to terrorists and lawbreakers and called anyone who questioned it racist,” he wrote. “You send out your MPs to say one thing in a mosque and the opposite in a synagogue, one thing in a mandir and the opposite in a gurdwara.
“You have made Canada a playground for foreign interference. You allowed Iran’s IRGC terrorists to legally operate here for four years after they murdered 55 of our citizens in a major unprovoked attack.
“You passed laws that release rampant offenders from prison within hours of their 80th arrest.
“And what is the result? Assassinations on Canadian soil, firebombings of synagogues, extremist violence against mandirs and gurdwaras, over 100 churches burned or vandalized (with barely any condemnation from you), all for a total 251% more hate crime.”
All on Trudeau’s watch, he added, before taking a swipe at the PM for having a good time at the Taylor Swift concert on the same day as the riots.
“And, while you were dancing, Montreal was burning,” Poilievre wrote.
“We won’t let you divide us anymore. Call an election now,” he demanded. “We will fire you and reclaim our citizenship, our values, our lives, our freedom and, most of all, our country.”