‘Conservatives you will be annihilated’: ministers’ offices receive suspicious packages

WATCH: There were some tense moments at the riding offices of four federal cabinet ministers from Quebec when they were sent envelopes containing a suspicious white powder and a threatening message. Mike Armstrong reports.

OTTAWA — Suspicious packages were delivered to the Quebec constituency offices of four federal ministers, with a letter warning in French that “Conservatives you will be annihilated.”

Spokespeople for federal Infrastructure Minister Denis Lebel, and Maxime Bernier, minister of state for small business, confirmed their local offices contacted police after the packages were received.

Another envelope containing white powder was later found in the riding office of International Development Minister Christian Paradis in Thetford Mines, south of Quebec City.

Police spokeswoman Annie Gilbert said a person who came into contact with the substance was transported to hospital.

Paradis’ spokesman said he’s not aware of a letter included in the envelope.

Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney also received an envelope that wasn’t opened.

“The minister takes this very seriously and is on his way back to Roberval right now,” Lebel’s director of communications wrote in an email to Global News.

Lebel’s office in Roberval, Que. alerted provincial police who are now investigating. Police told Global News that powder found in Lebel’s envelope was not toxic.

“This morning, my constituency office received a suspicious package. The Sûreté du Québec has taken charge of the investigation and has informed the RCMP,” he said.

“These actions are taken very seriously. The safety of Canadians is a priority for our government. There can be no doubt that we will not be intimidated.”

A secretary for Bernier said his Beauce, Que. office received an envelope with powder inside, which one of his employees placed in a sealed plastic bag that they eventually passed to the provincial police.

Bernier’s office is now closed until further notice.

– with files from The Canadian Press