OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre faced mounting pressure in the House of Commons on Monday to apologize for comments he made regarding the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). During question period, Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon challenged Poilievre to apologize for suggesting that the RCMP had covered up actions by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

MacKinnon stated, "The leader of the opposition put into question the independence of our judiciary, the independence of our prosecutors, of the police — in fact, the very police that put their lives on the line to protect him." He urged Poilievre to make amends, saying, "He should say sorry for what he said. We don’t do that in Canada."

Poilievre did not issue an apology. Instead, he accused the Liberal government of attempting to divert attention from issues like inflation and the rising cost of living. In a recent interview with a YouTube channel, Poilievre claimed that Trudeau “probably” violated the Criminal Code during the SNC-Lavalin affair and criticized the RCMP's leadership as "despicable" for allegedly failing to enforce laws against the Liberal government.

In the interview, Poilievre stated, "If the RCMP had been doing its job and not covering up for him, then he would have been criminally charged." He also referenced the 2016 Aga Khan scandal, asserting that Trudeau broke the law by accepting a free vacation from someone with government ties.

In a written statement released later, Poilievre expressed support for the RCMP officers, saying, "I stand shoulder to shoulder with the brave men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve." He clarified that his comments were aimed at former RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, whom he accused of having a history of scandals and political interference.

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May held a press conference on Monday, urging Poilievre to retract his statements and apologize. She remarked, "You have to know something about the law before you spout off that a former prime minister should be in jail," referencing the ethics commissioner's findings that Trudeau had breached the ethics code but not the Criminal Code.

Interim NDP Leader Don Davies criticized Poilievre's remarks as "Trumpian," suggesting they undermine Canadian democratic traditions. He stated, "These are not only irresponsible comments but, frankly, they undermine our democratic traditions and institutions and they’re wrong."

As reporters questioned Conservative MPs about Poilievre's comments, many chose not to respond or simply expressed their support for their leader. The Conservative Party is set to conduct a leadership review at its convention in Calgary in late January, where members will decide on Poilievre's future as leader.

The RCMP has previously stated that there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges in the SNC-Lavalin affair, which has been a contentious issue in Canadian politics. The current RCMP Commissioner, Mike Duheme, has emphasized the importance of operational independence for the force, stating, "I don’t take any orders from any political individual."

The ongoing debate highlights the tensions between the Conservative Party and the Liberal government, particularly regarding issues of accountability and the integrity of law enforcement in Canada.