Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was forced to cancel his plans to attend a fundraising dinner on Tuesday evening after two spokespersons said protesters hurled racial insults at the attendees, most of whom were South Asian, who had entered a conference center in Surrey, British Columbia.

Trudeau did not enter the building and spoke to a crowd for about three minutes via Zoom instead of delivering a speech in person.

He said no one should be intimidated or prevented from exercising their democratic freedoms "because this country is built on that idea."

Trudeau said he would return to see his supporters in Surrey in the future, and told one of the event organizers present that they should stay and enjoy the dinner, which was organized to raise $1,000.

Then Defense Minister Anita Anand addressed the crowd, but a Liberal Party staff member asked a reporter to leave the hall.

The party said in a statement to the Canadian Press that everyone participating "in our democracy should feel safe and respected."

In the same context, about forty protesters used foul language as they chanted against Trudeau and blew horns outside the conference center.

A man said over the loudspeaker, "We do not like the way Canada is being run."

A group of Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers took precautions and were observing the crowd.

Earlier this month, police launched an investigation after a video circulated on social media showing people insulting New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh during a protest in Peterborough, Ontario.

The video shows Singh confronting protesters as he leaves the campaign office, and they can be heard shouting insults and calling him a "traitor" as he gets into a car.

Singh later told reporters that the experience was "difficult and humiliating," but he is more concerned about what it means for politics in general.

Edited by: Dima Abu Khair