A group of protesters throws stones at Trudeau in an electoral event

Justin Trudeau's liberals are fighting a fierce fight against conservatives in the federal election campaign in Canada. A little less than two weeks before the appointment at the polls, most of the polls favor the Conservative Party, although with very close figures. In this closed scenario, Trudeau is also having to face groups of protesters in several of his rallies. They mainly protest against vaccination and restrictions arising from the pandemic; with a vehemence and bitterness rarely seen in the Canadian political landscape. This Monday, Trudeau and his security team were showered with small stones before boarding the field bus in the city of London (Ontario province). Trudeau said that same day: “I will not hesitate to continue fighting for a Canada where people are protected,a Canada where people follow science, a Canada where we can avoid other confinements to return to normal life ”.

The acting prime minister and head of the Liberals pointed out that the decision regarding his participation in each public activity for the September 20 elections "corresponds to the Canadian Mounted Police." Trudeau had to cancel a rally, on August 27, in Bolton (Ontario), precisely for security reasons. Likewise, the Liberal Party has stopped publishing its leader's itinerary in advance for a few days. In October 2019, as part of the last federal campaign, Trudeau attended an event wearing a bulletproof vest and surrounded by marked security equipment. The authorities never clarified the nature of the threat.

At various rallies, protesters have made threats and insults to Justin Trudeau (including combs and banners with the phrase "Fuck Trudeau").

They have also made racist and sexist comments to some security officers and members of the liberal team.

In addition, they have tried to interrupt speeches with shouts and drumming, and their attitude towards various media has been characterized by aggressiveness.

In recent weeks, anti-vaccination groups have protested outside hospitals in various parts of Canada.

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The main argument cited by Trudeau on August 15 for calling the polls early was the following: "Canadians must choose how we end the fight against covid-19 and rebuild in the best way." Currently, 75% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine and 68% already have the complete vaccination schedule. A few days before the start of the electoral process, the federal government indicated that all its officials must be fully vaccinated, no later than October, as well as passengers on commercial airplanes, cruise ships and interprovincial trains. Quebec launched a QR code passport on September 1 so that people with a complete vaccination schedule can have access to various non-essential activities.British Columbia will do the same from the 13th and Ontario on the 22nd.

Opposition parties have called Trudeau's call to the polls a "selfish" and "unnecessary" decision. However, they have condemned what happened at the liberal rallies. Jagmeet Singh, head of the New Democratic Party (center-left), has pointed out that the behavior of the protesters is "unacceptable". Erin O'Toole, leader of the Conservative Party and Trudeau's main rival, called the incident in the city of London "disgusting" via Twitter, stressing that political violence "is never justified". Some of the individuals who have repudiated Trudeau at rallies have displayed posters of the People's Party of Canada (libertarian style), but others have worn Conservative Party shirts. For this reason,O'Toole has repeatedly expressed that people who protest in this way have no place in his group. On August 30, in a statement not without controversy, Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Quebecois Bloc, pointed out that these actions in several of Justin Trudeau's events are "deplorable in substance and form", but suggested to Trudeau to be "more moderate in the way you present your ideas" and not to "add fuel to the fire."

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