RCMP launches investigation into man who called Chrystia Freeland a 'traitor'

The RCMP has opened an investigation into a Friday incident where Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was verbally harassed as she entered an elevator at City Hall in Grand Prairie, Alberta.

According to Global News, the RCMP said in a statement that they take seriously threats made against public officials.

"Physical action and statements made in person or online can have a significant impact and can be against the law," RCMP Sgt. Caroline Duval explained, adding that "when the threshold for a criminal charge is met, the RCMP or the police of jurisdiction may arrest and lay charges."

Duval noted that if the threshold for criminal charges is not met, the information gathered would be analyzed "from an intelligence perspective."

In a clip that has since gone viral, a man and woman are seen approaching Freeland before they begin yelling at her.

"Chrystia," the man says. "The f*ck you doin' in Alberta? You f*ckin' traitorous f*ckin' b*tch! Get the f*ck out of this province."

"You don't belong here," the woman chimed in.

The pair were escorted out of the building, levelling profanity-laden criticism of Freeland as they left.

"Oh my god, we came at the perfect time!" the woman said afterwards, giddy with excitement. "That needed to happen."

"I still got f*ckin' shivers," the man added.

Kurt Phillips of Anti-Racist Canada has since identified the man as Elliot McDavid.

McDavid has a long history of criticizing the Trudeau government, claiming that he and members of his party were "put in place to destroy this country."  He has repeatedly suggested that Canadians are living under tyranny, and that he will fight to take the country back.

This is not the first time McDavid has accosted a politician he disagrees with.

During a campaign rally, McDavid confronted Pierre Poilievre over his ties to the World Economic Forum, another one of the McDavid's main targets. After a few quick words with the Conservative MP, McDavid was ushered off stage.

Poilievre has condemned McDavid's conduct towards Freeland, calling it "absolutely unacceptable."

"I can relate, of course, because I've been the subject of so much online harassment and abuse," Poilievre said, adding that he had to hire a private security firm to protect his family.

He called on people to "put an end" to the harassment of politicians, and "demand that everybody treat other Canadians with respect when we debate political ideas."

Prime Minister Trudeau also condemned McDavid's actions, calling the threats uttered against her "extremely disturbing."

He decried the fact that such incidents appear to be taking place more and more often in Canada, particularly against women minorities.