Canada's top public servant admits to being worried that someone will be assassinated during the upcoming federal election campaign.
Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick is telling the House of Commons justice committee he is deeply concerned about Canada's politics and where things are headed, given the disturbing tenor of recent public discussion.
Wernick has been asked by the committee to address the SNC-Lavalin controversy dogging the Liberal government, but he is also voicing grave worries about the overall state of public political dialogue.
Wernick says he is concerned about the rising tide of incitements to violence, with people using terms like treason and traitor in open discussions.
Wernick adds those are words that lead to assassination, and he is worried somebody is going to be shot in Canada during the coming federal election campaign.
He also expresses dismay about what he calls the trolling from the vomitorium of social media entering the open media arena.