Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre said the recent heckling of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is "unacceptable," and called for Canadians to treat each other with respect "when we debate political ideas."."Unfortunately, this has become all too common and all too long standing. We have to put an end to it," Poilievre said in response to a question by CHEK News political correspondent Rob Shaw on Sunday..The MP for Carleton, Ontario was referring to an incident that took place in Grand Prairie, Alberta on Friday. A man named Elliot McDavid, who is an organizer of freedom convoy events in his area, verbally accosted Freeland in the lobby of a hotel.."Chrystia! What the f*ck are you doing in Alberta? F*cking traitor," the man can be heard saying as Freeland steps into an elevator..Poilievre said he can relate to Freeland's experience, as his family has been the subject of "so much" online abuse. "My wife has received so much horrific material directly to her social media account that we've had to hire a private security firm to protect our family against all of that abuse," Poilievre said..Several people on Twitter were displeased with Poilievre's answer. "It takes him less than five seconds to switch the subject to how he's the victim," said Max Fawcett of the National Observer."He didn’t say anything for the longest time, and when he did it was only to issue a much longer complaint about his own alleged mistreatment," said The Globe and Mail's Andrew Coyne..Catherine McKenna, former minister of the environment and climate change, said on Twitter that while it's "terrible" that Poilievre and his wife have faced harassment, those experiences should make it easier to call out the attack. ."Immediately, unequivocally, directly on your Twitter," she clarified. And to publicly support more security for ministers and MPs facing threats. Waiting."
