SURREY Mayor Doug McCallum on Tuesday condemned the harassment and verbal abuse that Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was subjected to in Alberta over the weekend by a man and called it “appalling.”

McCallum said: “Unfortunately, the hostility, threats and intimidation elected officials face both online and in-person have become common place. In Surrey, members of Council and myself have been targets of such unacceptable and repugnant behaviour.”

McCallum pointed out: “The kind of abuse hurled at politicians, of all stripes, will only deter good people from stepping up to run for public office.”

He added: “Not agreeing with one’s politics is part of democracy, but the vitriol hurled at Minister Freeland and elected officials is not.”

Meanwhile, the RCMP told the national media that it is investigating the incident and takes threats against public officials seriously.