Harassment of MPs spiked almost 800% in 5 years, says House sergeant-at-arms

The harassment members of Parliament experience from the public has jumped almost 800 per cent in the last five years, according to the person in charge of security in the House of Commons.

Patrick McDonell, sergeant-at-arms and corporate security officer, told a committee of MPs studying the House harassment policy Tuesday that the spike was driven by incidents that are «mostly online but also in person and at events.»

The number of files McDonell's office has opened on threats to MPs has also increased significantly, he said.

«In 2019 there was approximately eight files we opened up on threat behaviours, either direct or in direct threat towards an MP, and in 2023 there was 530 files opened,» McDonnell said.

A spokesperson for the Speaker's office told CBC News in an email that when a file is opened it means the Sergeant-at-Arms is working with «law enforcement partners to determine the credibility and veracity» of the threat. For security reasons, details about the alleged threats are not shared publicly.

McDonnell said his office has started «bulk filing» harassing complaints received by MPs because «there's just so much of it.»

The House of Commons procedure and House affairs committee is hearing witnesses for its review of the House of Commons workplace harassment and violence prevention policy.

Tuesday's meeting heard from House administration officials responsible for the operations of the Commons, including Clerk Eric Janse, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel Michel Bédard, Chief Human Resources Officer Carolyne Evangelidis, Deputy Clerk Jeffrey LeBlanc and Speaker Greg Fergus.

McDonell said his office has been unable to get harassing social media posts removed because platforms are either not taking his calls or are