Abigail Bimman
@AbigailBimman
Followers
17K
Following
2K
Media
2K
Statuses
13K
Ottawa-based correspondent for @CTVNationalNews. IG: @abigailbimman
Joined April 2010
Ottawa march about to get underway, starting at Parliament Hill. At least hundreds - harder to judge exact crowd size with people spaced further apart than usual. Chanting “Black Lives Matter.”
1K
3K
17K
As of now (9:30PM Paris time), Trump has not shown up to the dinner for world leaders hosted by the French president at the @MuseeOrsay. Trudeau arrived at 7:30 as scheduled. Thanks for following along today - I am signing off Twitter for the night.
1K
4K
12K
This is a banner with names of children who died at residential schools. It is so long, it takes about three dozen people to march it.
128
6K
12K
NEW from PM’s office: Trudeau’s audience with the Queen was 45 minutes. Usually audiences are scheduled for 20. This was Her Majesty’s first in person meeting with a leader since testing positive for COVID. No details released about what they discussed.
827
668
6K
NEW: Protesters, many of whom appear to be veterans, are removing the fencing that was put up at the war memorial. Only two police officers that I can see, and they just showed up now as most was dismantled.
651
1K
4K
NEW: @theJagmeetSingh issues letter to federal leaders @erinotoole @JustinTrudeau @AnnamiePaul @yfblanchet calling on them to drop partisanship and come together ahead of the next debate to record a message urging Canadians to get vaccinated. #cdnpoli #Elxn44
350
488
3K
Crowd getting louder outside US embassy. You can see businesses boarded up in the background, which colleagues who have been here longer than I say they’ve never seen in Ottawa before.
114
809
3K
Chrétien talks about importance of vaccines. Says he’s been vaccinated with various shots for 86 years. On Erin O’Toole- “He is doing something I cannot do - he is speaking out of both sides of his mouth.”
163
669
2K
Oh, here’s a lovely email for those arguing there aren’t antisemitic tones.
619
562
2K
I’ve been on Kent speaking to truckers - most from out west, Prince George, Mayerthorpe, Winnipeg. Fed up w/restrictions/mandates, feel this is only way to make themselves heard. One apologized to residents dealing w/noise/congestion. Frustrated extremists detract from their msg.
227
374
2K
Inside PM’s plane, if anyone needed a refresher. Journalists at back - word is more reporters on this trip than any since 2015. Front beyond where you can see are most senior officials. Small PM cabin front left. It’s so old, extension cords run along floor to power devices.
1K
275
2K
When Trudeau got on the plane this evening we asked him whether he was hit by gravel. He says some might have hit his shoulder. When I asked him whether it “might have” or it did, he asked if that mattered.
1K
391
1K
The Canadian delegation is boarding the plane in London. 🇨🇦 is giving our commonwealth friend 🇳🇿 a lift to the UN in New York - and @JustinTrudeau & @jacindaardern will have a rare bilateral meeting on board.
335
153
1K
NEW: Poilievre says Conservative platform drops tomorrow. He doesn’t answer why it’s happening in the final days of the campaign, or why his is the last party to release one.
2K
347
1K
My @globalnews team, one of 3 covering march, has repositioned to US embassy where thousands of people fill the street. This is not on protest route, but was initially. Protest organizers changed route bc they felt going to the embassy may be unsafe. Peaceful so far.
41
211
1K
The Prime Minister lays a wreath at the Vimy memorial.
36
284
1K
Crew & I called liars, fake news, expletives more than I can count. ~20 gathered, yelled as I tried to talk on camera. Some polite. I try to talk to them. Often I’ve reported on what they accuse me of ignoring. Haven’t met one who has actually watched my work or @GlobalNational.
335
165
1K
BREAKING: London police charged 25 year old Shane Marshall with one count of assault with a weapon in connection to the gravel/stones thrown at Justin Trudeau on Monday. London police say he appeared in court today and his next appearance is October 6.
77
154
1K
Today’s protesters have dialled back on the swearing but not the anger & yelling.
180
313
1K
At official welcome, @JustinTrudeau is the only leader to use a mask. He puts it on briefly to elbow-bump @BorisJohnson, then removes it before crossing in front of them and chatting and posing on the other side. #G7 #G7Summit #G7UK
435
424
1K
PM Trudeau has touched down in New Jersey en route to UN. 2nd remarkable plane ride this trip - Trudeau, @jacindaardern chatted w/members of delegation. In one pic @IamSandraOh, the other former PM Martin. Ardern is wearing a scarf gifted to her on board by @cassidy_caron.
130
117
890
Good morning from Ottawa, day 17 of protests. Currently no fencing back up at War Memorial. Contrary to what fence dismantlers told police yesterday, about watching it 24/7, no protester is guarding site. I’ll have latest on that & everything else on @globalnews morning shows.
550
231
823
BREAKING: Confidence voted is defeated - 180 to 146. Conservatives and Bloc voted in favour, everyone else including the 2 independents voted against. No election.
59
157
833
NEW: Ontario is changing its vaccine policy and no longer reserving second doses, but getting all of the initial 90k out the door- they expect to finish them in the “next several days” - Health Minister’s office tells @globalnews. Change due to confidence in supply chain.
113
190
810
Meet Elsa. 95 years old. A spy in the Second World War. She's marching in the #womensmarch in Ottawa. She says "we've been doing this since the '60s" but not enough has changed. She wants to see gender equality before she leaves the planet.
18
325
717
Trudeau arrives for tree planting photo op 32 minutes late. Some of the children participating waiting in the rain have had enough.
282
412
740
Police moved in. One officer told a fence dismantler that protection of the memorial was now their responsibility.
155
281
762
Press access this trip so far: reporters have had a total of 7 questions (no follow ups) to the PM in three days. There has been a news conference every day, all joint with other leaders.
507
262
835
Outing myself as the "colleague" who spotted this. Cannot stop 👀.
This is amusing. A colleague pointed out the Trudeau-Pupatello synchro head scratching in the last video I posted.
62
103
740
4 Liberal ministers denounce @TuckerCarlson visit to Alberta, @R_Boissonnault accuses @ABDanielleSmith of summoning the dogs of MAGA Trump. @s_guilbeault says it incites political violence and wants @PierrePoilievre to condemn hateful statements.
1K
181
689
NEW: NDP says as of today, they have a full slate of 338 candidates. For the first time, 52% are women and the party says 79% are “equity seeking,” which they define as women, racialized, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, living with a disability or youth.
36
155
638
NEW: After just under two hours of waiting, Trudeau’s final event of the day in Bolton was cancelled due to security concerns.
327
117
627
Strong questions from @CBCRaffy about whether Trudeau is breaking rules holding this packed event in a small restaurant. Also whether there’s a disconnect between criticizing Ford for lack of vaccine mandate and breaking provincial rules. Trudeau completely evades both questions.
114
254
664
I see many comments suggesting protesters at war memorial were shouting “USA.” They were not. They were shouting “liberté.”.
26
108
615
Flowers left outside the University of Ottawa building bearing Alex Trebek’s name.
1
106
648
Learning to roll w/NDP campaign: all of a sudden see Jagmeet Singh walk off. Where? To an impromptu photo op at a poutine festival in Saint-Hyacinthe. No one knows where. Journos wander for awhile asking locals for directions. Now they’re dancing to American Pie. With poutine.
27
140
590
I have a new assignment, and I’m jumping in with both feet. ❤️🦶👶🦶❤️ . Already missing the Hill and my @GlobalNational / @globalnews colleagues, but I’ve been busy figuring out some new deadline demands. I’ll be back from maternity leave later in 2023!
74
5
635
On the last day of the 2021 campaign in a Vaughan backyard, in a pitch to progressive voters to stop vote splitting, Trudeau pulls out reference to Stephen Harper. “People who want to stop Stephen Harper” - then corrects himself - “Erin O’Toole.”
308
183
601
Deputy PM Freeland says the feds will appeal the new federal court ruling finding the Liberals’ decision to invoke the Emergencies Act unreasonable, unjustified. They’ve discussed it with the PM, cabinet and senior officials. “We do not agree with this decision.”
529
120
539
2nd officer tried to take names of dismantlers but outnumbered by crowd who started moving in on them chanting very loudly. Not sure result of name taking. We tried to speak to several people involved in taking down panels, all said they didn’t want to talk/didn’t trust media.
80
114
530
PM Trudeau is on his way to meet @trussliz at 10 Downing Street, and @Number10cat has made an appearance.
12
12
563
NEW: The Prime Minister has tested negative on his arrival PCR and is free to leave the quarantine hotel.
114
53
496
NEW: modelling from Ottawa shows outbreaks in long-term care & seniors’ homes are responsible for 79% of #COVID19 deaths across Canada, and are “driving recent epidemic growth” in Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia.
35
275
502
BREAKING: NACI recommends the AstraZeneca vaccine now be offered to people 30+, if the individual does not want to wait for an mRNA vaccine and the benefit outweighs the risk. NACI still considers mRNA vaccines as “preferentially recommended.”.
67
152
522
BREAKING: Former Liberal MP @iamcelinacc tells @MercedesGlobal on @TheWestBlock for 1st time in her life, she’s voting for local Conservative. I asked Trudeau about it & what it means to him as a feminist. He said he wishes her well, but didn’t go further.
76
209
489
You can watch Trudeau telling a crying baby the baby is jealous of his eyebrows here 👇 (A sentence I did not think I’d write this #elxn43 campaign.)
250
163
449
In a scrum after Brampton rally, former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion, who endorsed Trudeau in 2015, says she didn’t agree with an election call during the pandemic, but since there is one, she’s hoping for a majority government for stability.
26
61
446
I’ve now filled out forms to travel with Conservatives, Liberals & NDP. Conservatives were the only ones requiring me to submit actual proof of double vaccination. Liberals had me tick a box confirming I can travel to all provinces without quarantine, aka fully vaccinated.
83
137
479
BREAKING: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opens remarks by announcing agreement reached with US to “temporarily restrict all non-essential travel” between the two countries. No trips for recreation or tourism, but essential services, supply chain, trade will be allowed to continue.
18
141
434
Jagmeet Singh gets on the bus and tells us a local Sikh family came to the townhall and brought enough parathas for the entire bus. He passes it out and explains a bit about the dish - and says he also makes it at home. (“I’m a good cook.”)
21
80
441
NEW: Dr. Tam says based on latest unofficial numbers, we have surpassed that goal of 75% first dose and 20% fully vaccinated. “But this is not the time or place to stop,” saying we need to remain vigilant.
110
91
429
NEW: Minister @marcomendicino says he’s speaking with @CanBorder to make sure there are clear guidelines so Americans who may not be able to access an abortion can come to Canada to do so. Says ability to do so isn’t in question but he wants to make sure things are clear.
455
143
399
You guys. It wasn’t just a regular poutine truck that broke down. IT WAS A @theJagmeetSingh BRANDED POUTINE TRUCK. #Elxn44 #cdnpoli
70
65
407
In a virtual q&a about vaccines for parents and children, @JustinTrudeau says he will be taking 7 year old Hadrien to get his vaccine this afternoon. He says Hadrien is excited - sort of, because Dad promised him chocolate.
20
35
379
At newser in Windsor, 10 reporters including me asked Trudeau different qs re:coalition gov’t, would he work w/ @theJagmeetSingh? He didn’t answer. Repeated ‘we are working hard to elect a progressive govt & stop Conservative cuts’ so many times, even his supporters here laughed.
202
191
366
Foreign Minister @melaniejoly says Ukraine is top of her agenda at the #UNGA as well as disinformation. She begins her comments saying Canada is calling for an investigation into the death of #Mahsa_Amini in Iran.
41
106
395
NEW: @theJagmeetSingh’s first poutine-serving event in Montreal is delayed because, media is told, the poutine truck broke down on the way there.
83
56
386
It’s hard to capture extent of the line waiting to get in in Nanoose Bay, BC. It snakes around the building beyond what this video shows. And there’s a tailgate. Overheard one person: “If he loses, it’s rigged.”
51
88
427
Chrystia Freeland accompanies Trudeau yet again on a southern Ontario stop. On childcare: “We can really do this! We’re just one election away from finally getting this done.”
272
81
348
New problem with Liberal media bus. When the bus lowered it was too close to the curb and they couldn’t get the door open. Reporter @pvfoisy saved the day by climbing through the tiny slot and starting the bus.
156
131
361
NEW: The Prime Minister says don’t book a trip for spring break - and he says that includes travelling across Canada.
59
108
343
NDP leader @theJagmeetSingh calls for the creation of a crown corporation for the purposes of vaccines manufactured in Canada.
61
73
307
At the Ottawa airport after identifying I’m a journalist, a US border guard asked me “good news or fake news?” Ugh. It’s too early for this.
60
52
333
Setting up for an indoor Liberal rally in Brampton, crowd is tight together. Media told room capacity is 500. Crowd asked to stand in taped boxes on the floor, 10-15 people per box. Not all complying, and no request to stand with same household.
209
162
345
Back home. For those wondering, at the Ottawa airport tonight I was asked on the customs form whether I’d visited Iran, China or Italy, but there were no other questions or screenings regarding symptoms. The agent only asked where I was coming from and why I had been there.
61
196
316
BREAKING: PM announces details for 3 made-in-Canada vaccines. “Tens of millions” Novavax doses at NRC site in Mtl, built by end of summer. Vancouver’s Precision NanoSystems new facility to produce up to 240M doses/yr (March 2023). VIDO (USask) can produce 40M/yr (end of 2021).
107
118
305
Trudeau is asked twice by @meyer_lucas what exactly his costume was when he wore blackface in the video obtained by @globalnews. He does not answer.
52
139
315
NEW: Justin Trudeau promises $1B fund to help provinces with vaccine passports & a $100M fund to study long-term health effects of COVID. Calls vaccine mandates for non essential businesses “a good idea.”
153
98
295
BREAKING: Looks like last minute deal on aluminum tariffs right before Cda imposed counter- USTR statement says US “will resume duty-free treatment of non-allowed, unwrought aluminum retrospective to September 1, 2020” if Cda meets certain limits. Freeland will respond at 3pm.
41
167
309
Request made for “all the strong guys” to start pushing the Liberal media bus.
436
108
295
I’m thrilled to share I’m joining the @CTVNationalNews team! I’ll be back on the Hill in March.
46
11
359
BREAKING: PM says they are moving forward with a federal holiday Monday to mark the Queen’s funeral & are working with provinces.
93
91
318
In response to a question about why Canada sent medical equipment to China, Trudeau talks about a global crisis. Says in the coming days Canada will receive “millions” more items of medical gear, plus references companies retooling to produce more gear.
16
46
304
A Cdn govt source says this is good news for Canada. Describes the asks or quotas set out in the US statement as bluster, since there is a free trade agreement in place and Canada has not agreed to any deal regarding aluminum.
15
86
293
Millions of Ontarians 18+ are eligible for a vaccine today. I’m one of them. 1st available date was end of June. I was scheduled for a 2nd dose late October. We’ll see if anything changes due to supply, but that’s not fully vaccinated by end of September as continually promised.
145
57
312
BREAKING: PM Trudeau announces he's travelling to the UK, Latvia, Germany & Poland next week. Will discuss Ukraine, how to "stand against Russian aggression," combat disinformation/misinformation, as well as discuss economic recovery and fighting climate change with allies.
330
49
271
Very aware this is probably the weirdest moment I’ve tweeted in 35 days.
Trudeau meets this baby who has been crying. “You’re just jealous of my eyebrows,” he tells the baby, promising baby will one day have nice eyebrows. #elxn43
47
68
312
Trudeau speaks without a teleprompter. He talks about supporters who came to event tonight who wanted to see him, and how event had to be cancelled in case some of them would get hurt. To the protesters: “I know and I feel the anger, the frustration, perhaps the fear.”
68
66
279
Except there hasn’t been a statement from McCaffrey on Faith Goldy.
11
102
264
On GAC official attending Russia Day event at Russia’s embassy in Ottawa, Foreign Affairs min says she’s minister & buck stops w/her, shouldn’t have happened & won’t again-but won’t answer repeated qs about when she learned, if she knew in advance, or decision making process.
326
112
297
Prime Minister asked in media avail if he takes any responsibility for WE’s closure. In his 1 minute & 42 second answer he did not name WE nor take responsibility. PM repeated regret for not recusing himself due to “perception,” doubled down “there was no conflict of interest.”.
176
104
259
I asked Ottawa Police several questions about war memorial incident including will fencing be put back? Could police get info they needed on scene? Will there be an investigation? I was told no details to share, they don’t discuss operational plans & I should watch Twitter.
121
68
272
I asked @MPJulian to come to the announcement site to comment on the Conservative addictions plan made in his riding, and that prompted this encounter. They exchanged some warm greetings and both agreed this was an unnecessary election.
19
50
294
Jagmeet Singh reacts to breaking TIME story of Trudeau in brown face. Pauses for moment to think (broke while he was speaking), then says it’s troubling, insulting & he needs to answer for it. Says in general it’s a mockery when ppl do it. Room applauds.
48
149
259
In an Uber to the airport for the Conservative campaign. When I shared what I was doing with the driver, his first question was not about politics, but what the latest was on helping people in Afghanistan.
19
32
291
In question period today Prime Minister repeats (twice so far) that ‘one dose summer’ means ppl can have BBQs w/friends, some improvement in restrictions, but aside from multiple vague mentions of BBQs (masked? Size?) there are no details about what one dose summer means.
198
56
272
As the parade wrapped up the woman in the red hat kept yelling at the Prime Minister to come across the street so she could speak to him. I think to many people’s surprise, he did. She then thanked him “for making Canada great again.”
41
68
272
PM kept naming this small town as part of #SNCLavalin jobs defence - so I went to Port Elgin to find out what people there think. Those who live in community of 8,000 tell me it’s booming-& they’re baffled to hear the PM mentions. Full story 👇 #cdnpoli.
25
160
262
21
8
280
Trudeau marched by police all the way down street away from announcement site and around the corner before getting in a vehicle as he was surrounded and screamed at by protesters the whole time. Among profanity, one yelled “just like the dirty Jews.”
446
147
249
BREAKING: Canada welcomes US decision to drop aluminum tariffs and will not impose counter tariffs. “It is a testament to the team Canada approach.” - @mary_ng
9
76
241
Pulling up to the site of Carney’s rally in Calgary - this is some of the line.
62
56
289
The sign reads Nuremberg Now. (Actually, it reads Nurenberg Now.) Nuremberg trials resulted in the hanging execution of Nazis.
99
80
236
Speaking after G7 meeting on Afghanistan, Justin Trudeau says Canada is prepared to work past August 31 deadline. @MercedesGlobal asks if it’s too late - has Canada failed? He doesn’t directly answer, nor does he answer @kkirkup about what happens if the deadline isn’t moved.
139
115
257
NEW: Here’s a transcription of some of the conversation our cameras captured between police and those who took down fencing at the war memorial. I used (??) when I couldn't 100% be sure of the audio. More on @GlobalNational shortly.
85
110
244
Trudeau yells to protester: ‘Isn’t there a hospital you should be going to bother right now?’ Happened before sitting down w/ @NeetuGarcha for interview. Article by @boyntonwords, piece cut by @SeanPrevil. Video/context👇
125
84
253