MP Marilyn Gladu, the Conservative critic for civil liberties, is asking the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage to look into the Jan. 8 arrest of Mr. Menzies, calling the occurrence an “attack on press freedom and freedom of expression.”
“This assault on a journalist and egregious attack on press freedom in Canada has been viewed by millions online, has been rightly condemned by individuals of all political stripes and the independent press gallery,” Ms. Gladu wrote. “The committee on Canadian Heritage has a duty and responsibility to address press freedom and free expression, especially when it comes under attack.”
The letter was signed by Ms. Gladu as well as three other Tory MPs who sit on the committee. The letter also bears the names of two committee members from other parties: Peter Julian of the NDP and Martin Champoux of Bloc Québécois, though those names don’t have an accompanying signature. The Epoch Times contacted Ms. Gladu, Mr. Julian, and Mr. Champoux for clarification but didn’t immediately hear back.
Ms. Gladu, in her social media post accompanying the letter, said the NDP and Bloc Québécois were preventing the committee meeting from taking place. The Epoch Times contacted the offices of both parties for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.
The video shows Mr. Menzies walking alongside Ms. Freeland and a companion while questioning Ms. Freeland on why Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had not yet been listed as a terrorist organization.
Ms. Freeland continued walking while being questioned, without responding to Mr. Menzies. The video then shows a man in plain clothes intercepting and blocking Mr. Menzies.
The man, who later identified himself as a police officer, is then shown grappling with and pushing Mr. Menzies before telling him he’s under arrest as other officers surround them.
The RCMP officer accused Mr. Menzies of assault, saying the Rebel News reporter “pushed into” him. Mr. Menzies repeatedly asks the officer for his name and badge number, without receiving a response.
Another officer told Mr. Menzies he was “very aggressive,” to which Mr. Menzies responded, “You mean I was asking questions aggressively?” Mr. Menzies maintained he had not touched anyone, but the officers insist he was “pushing everybody over.”
Call for Comment
Ms. Gladu is also calling on the government to address the events of Jan. 8.“Thus far, the Trudeau Liberals have not condemned this unjust arrest,” she said in a Jan. 9 letter posted on X. “Outrageously, this government has created a climate where journalists can face criminal charges for demanding answers on critical subjects. By doing so they are seeking to limit the right of Canadians to freedom of expression. This is unacceptable.”
The Epoch Times contacted the offices of the prime minister and the deputy prime minister but did not receive a response by publication time.
Ms. Gladu is not the only member of her party to express outrage. Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre was among the first to speak out against the arrest on social media.
The RCMP told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that it is currently looking into the incident.
“RCMP protective policing resources were involved in an incident while deployed on a protective operation,” spokesperson Sgt. Kim Chamberland said. “The RCMP is looking into the incident and the actions of all parties involved. No further comment is available at this time.”
