OTTAWA — Canada’s top public servant says he is worried someone will be assassinated during the coming federal election campaign given the disturbing tenor of recent public discussion.

Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick is telling the House of Commons justice committee today he is deeply concerned about Canada’s politics and where things are headed.

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.

He says he is concerned about the rising tide of incitements to violence, with people using terms like treason and traitor in open discussions.

Wernick says 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.

The Canadian Press