‘No one should face this abuse’: Rape threats about Poilievre’s wife referred to RCMP

'People can attack my politics, they can call me names, they can protest my ideas and what I stand for. But threatening my wife and family is appalling and I will not tolerate it'

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has referred rape threats concerning his wife to the RCMP to assess whether criminal charges should be laid.

Poilievre shared a written statement on Twitter on Monday morning after having been made aware of “disgusting comments” from Jeremy Mackenzie, the founder of far-right group Diagolon, and Alex Vriend, another senior Diagolon activist, targeting his spouse.

During a two-hour livestream on the night of Friday to Saturday, Mackenzie and Vriend made lewd comments about Anaida Poilievre on the Telegram platform in a channel run by Vriend. Mackenzie joked about sexually assaulting her while Vriend laughed.

A clip of the recording was circulating on social media during the weekend and prompted the Conservative leader to react.

“This kind of garbage has no place in Canada. No one should face this abuse,” wrote Poilievre in his statement.

“People can attack my politics, they can call me names, they can protest my ideas and what I stand for. But threatening my wife and family is appalling and I will not tolerate it.”

“Leave my family alone.”

Mackenzie had previously attended one of Poilievre’s leadership campaign rallies last month and even took a picture with him while shaking hands – which prompted criticism.

Poilievre released a statement at the time saying he did not recognize this particular individual and said it was “impossible” to do a background check of everyone who attended his events.

On Monday, the politician reiterated he had never heard of Mackenzie nor Vriend, who he referred to as “losers” and “dirtbags” – until a month ago, as did most Canadians, he said.

Mackenzie, who uses the pseudonym “Raging Dissident” on Telegram, dismissed Poilievre’s reaction on his public channel.

He said it is “unfortunate as leader of the opposition that he’s chosen to focus his attention on such trivial matters like small-time podcast comedians making jokes” and went on to insult Poilievre who he thinks will “crack like an egg” under “any real pressure”.

Amarnath Amarasingam, assistant professor in the School of Religion at Queen’s University and specialist in extremist movements, said that the Diagolon crowd often goes after women in their livestreams – whether it be journalists, researchers or “anyone who criticizes them”.

“It is definitely not the first time that these tendencies have veered into extreme misogyny, and won’t be the last,” he said.

“They often defend themselves by claiming they are just joking, but I think people are starting to see that this is a long-running trend in the movement.”

This is the first time Poilievre has spoken out so forcefully against Diagolon and its leaders, but Amarasingam doubts that this will weaken his support among his more populist base.

“The truly hard-core far right were never supportive of Poilievre anyway, because they think all politics is corrupt and should be done away with,” said the assistant professor.

Amarasingam added he understands the need to denounce Mackenzie and others now, “but it would have been great to hear some forceful words when they were harassing female journalists, researchers and politicians”.

“You can’t just speak out when it hits close to your home.”