PM and others respond to 'shocking [and] deeply disturbing' Capitol Hill riots
Prime Minister Trudeau has come out in opposition to this week's riots at the American capital, calling them "shocking" and accusing the President of having incited them.
"What we witnessed was an assault on democracy by violent rioters, incited by the current president and other politicians," said the PM outside Rideau Cottage.
"As shocking, deeply disturbing, and frankly saddening as that event remains, we have also seen this week that democracy is resilient in America, our closest ally and neighbour. Violence has no place in our societies, and extremists will not succeed in overruling the will of the people."
Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne also responded to the events over Twitter.
Head of the Conservative Party Erin O'Toole matched the PM by equally declaring his opposition to the violence, calling the events south of the border anti-democratic.
"The storming of the Capitol Building is an astonishing assault on freedom and democracy. I am deeply saddened to see chaos grip our greatest ally today," he said over social media.
Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Chong was more direct, criticizing the President of the US directly:
“The violence of an unruly mob incited by outgoing President Trump that attacked America’s national legislature in Washington, DC, that was meeting to certify the results of the recent US election, is an affront to the shared principles that both Canada and the United States have had in common for more than a century. Principles such as a belief in democracy and the rule of law, and in the peaceful transition of power based on democratic elections.
“Canada is the closest ally and friend of the United States. We share close economic, cultural, and security ties and are bound together by hundreds of years of history and family.
Provincial leaders also chose to spoke out. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has stated that "the peaceful transfer of power is crucial to any democracy and I'm incredibly disappointed with what we are witnessing in the United States today."
Premier of Quebec François Legault tweeted that the images coming out of Washington were "worrying," and that it was a dark day for "the American democracy" although he stated that he believes that the country will rebound "as it always has during its history."
Trump's social media account on Twitter had been temporarily locked after the events, although it has since gone back online.
