Liberals, Greens, NDP call on Poilievre to apologize over RCMP comments

By Canadian Press on October 20, 2025.

OTTAWA — Government House leader Steven MacKinnon called on Pierre Poilievre to apologize in Parliament today for his recent comments about the RCMP.

In an interview with a YouTube channel released last week, the Conservative leader called the Mounties’ leadership “despicable” and accused it of covering up for former prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Poilievre claimed that Trudeau could have been charged criminally for taking a vacation from someone with whom he had government business — a reference to the 2016 Aga Khan scandal — and that Trudeau would be in jail if not for the RCMP.

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, who also called on Poilievre to apologize, said there was no Criminal Code offence involved.

In question period this afternoon, MacKinnon said the Conservative leader’s comments called into question the independence of the judiciary and the RCMP.

Poilievre did not apologize in the House of Commons and, in a statement, his spokesperson said his comments were directed at former RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucki.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2025.

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press