Justin Trudeau wears protective vest after unspecified threat

Toronto, October 13

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau donned a bulletproof vest for an election campaign rally on Saturday, a Reuters eyewitness said, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation cited sources saying a security threat had been received.

Pictures taken by Reuters photographer Stephane Mahe at the event in the Ontario city of Mississauga outside Toronto showed Trudeau wearing bulky protection under his shirt.

Police wearing backpacks surrounded Trudeau on the stage for the first time since the start of a six-week election campaign leading up to what polls suggest will be a closely contested vote on October 21.

CBC cited unnamed sources inside Trudeau’s Liberal Party as saying he donned the bulletproof vest after the campaign received a threat.

Liberal spokeswoman Zita Astravas declined to comment on Trudeau’s security arrangements. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police declined to comment.

Trudeau, who often plunges into crowds to shake hands and pose for photos, did the same as he was leaving the event, but this time he was closely surrounded by security, said Mahe.

Unlike the United States, where four presidents have been assassinated since 1865, there is almost no history of serious political violence in Canada. — Reuters

Populist political wave penetrates Canada    

On October 3, PM Justin Trudeau said Quebec has every right to test the immigrants who want to settle in the French-speaking province

Conservative leader Maxime Bernier proposes to limit the number of immigrants to between 100,000 and 150,000 a year, less than half of what the country currently receives, and accept only those who prove they have “Canadian values”