Following the attack on Parliament Hill and its impact on our nation
In a troubling week for Canadian citizens- prevalent with stories of shock, terror, and disbelief-the nation endured through one of its most trying and difficult times that will not soon be forgotten. As Canadians continue to cope with the loss of two brave soldiers, what remains constant is not hatred and anger, but rather, the resounding solidarity of Canadians who have remained vigilant in a time of national crisis. These attacks on Canadian soil have not only served as a grim reminder of the capabilities of individuals, but have also demonstrated the vulnerability of Canada’s national security.
On Oct. 20, the small town of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, just south of Montreal, became the sight of an act of violence which saw two police officers getting hit by a vehicle. The attacker, Martin Coutoure-Rouleau – who was later identified as an extremist- was brought down by police after he tried to flee the scene, and a car chase ensued. The scene of the crime told the tale of a vicious terrorist attacker who targeted two Canadian soldiers, and struck them with his vehicle. The attack resulted in one death, and left one soldier severely injured. Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, who served with the Canadian Forces for 28 years, was identified as the victim of the malicious hit-and-run. This act of terrorism preceded the events which took place in Ottawa, but has nonetheless had a profound impact in shaping the Canadian landscape in the wake of these attacks.
A few days later on Oct. 22, Canada once again fell victim to a brutal, yet unforeseeable, act of violence. Early Wednesday morning, a soldier was attacked while standing on ceremonial guard at the Canadian National War Memorial. The masked gunman arrived at the scene in a hijacked vehicle and ran towards the War Memorial with a rifle in hand, and fatally shot the soldier on-duty at point-blank range.
After running into the Parliament Building, multiple shots were fired as police arrived at the scene. Parliament was placed on lockdown and the surrounding downtown area was told to remain safe and indoors. After a tense standoff, officers were able to subdue the perpetrator. Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers heroically took down the shooter, and eliminated the potential for any more casualties. A video from inside the Parliament Building surfaced online in which upwards of 40 gunshots can be heard.
While the entire nation closely followed the events, confusion and panic set in as there were concerns of other possible suspects in the surrounding area. With a good portion of downtown Ottawa placed on lockdown, very little information was released to the public. Slowly, eye witness reports began to appear and shed light on the situation. Multiple news sources provided coverage and tried to keep an entire nation informed and safe. The attacker was later identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a 32-year-old born in Quebec, who is believed to have had political and ideological motives in his actions.
While more speculation began to surface in search of the shooter’s possible motives, Canadian’s chose to focus not on the evil actions of this one man, but instead on the bravery and loss of one of its soldiers. The victim who was shot and killed was identified as Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a 24-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario. Having his life taken while standing on ceremonial guard at the National War Memorial, Canadian’s world-wide have paid their respects and mourned for the loss of Cpl. Cirillo. As Canadian citizens continue to mourn the loss of Cpl. Cirillo, his warm, brave spirit outshines the evil and terror caused on that day in Ottawa. Prime Minister Stephen Harper denounced the brutal act of violence and terror which took place and shocked the country.
In his national address, Harper said, “Cpl. Cirillo was killed today, murdered in cold blood, as he provided a ceremonial honour guard at Canada’s National War Memorial, that sacred place that pays tribute to those who gave their lives so that we can live in a free, democratic and safe society.” Cpl. Cirillo will forever be remembered in hearts of Canadians for his duty and service to the nation.
Harper delivered his national address shortly after the events on Parliament Hill took place.
“This week’s events are a grim reminder that Canada is not immune to the types of terrorist attacks we have seen elsewhere around the world,” Harper said. “The terrorist attacks that occurred in Quebec and Ottawa have forever changed the Canadian landscape in terms of politics and national security. While officers and first-aid respondents arrived at the scene very quickly, many questions were raised involving the amount of prevention that could have been set in place.
On Oct. 27, the Harper government proposed a new spy legislation called “the Protection of Canada from Terrorists Act,” which looks to give more power to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service in an attempt to prevent future acts of violence on Canadian soil. The new bill is the first active change made to CSIS since its conception in 1984, and it aims to protect identities and expand the level of information CSIS investigators can obtain in international countries. The newly proposed piece of legislation could have powerful implications to forever change Canadian politics. With two terrorist attacks occurring on Canadian soil within the same week, preventative measures and constant vigilance will need to be exercised more thoroughly.
The ability to prevent such acts of terror in the future has become a predominant question lingering over the heads of Parliament, and is looking to be answered within the coming weeks.
“But let there be no misunderstanding: we will not be intimidated,” Harper stated. “Canada will never be intimidated. In fact, this will lead us to strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts, and those of our national security agencies, to take all necessary steps to identify and counter threats and keep Canada safe here at home.”