Canadian politicians from across the spectrum are condemning political violence following the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, a prominent U.S. conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, at a Utah college event on Wednesday.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Kirk’s killing must be “strongly denounced,” stressing that political violence is never justified, that the attacker must be brought to justice, and that free speech must be protected.
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather called the murder a “tragedy,” warning that hateful rhetoric can have “real life consequences.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith also reacted with shock, saying she was “saddened and horrified” and that violence of this kind “has no place in a free and democratic society and must be condemned without reservation.”
Kirk, 31, co-founded the youth conservative organization Turning Point USA and was known for his combative style on U.S. college campuses. His death, announced on social media by Trump, has reignited debate about the rising threat of political violence in North America.