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Canadian lawmakers vow to hold on to nation’s openness after Ottawa shooting Canadian lawmakers vow to hold on to nation’s openness after Ottawa shooting
(about 2 hours later)
In the wake of Wednesday’s shooting in Ottawa, Canadian lawmakers returned to work amid calls for increased security that would provide safety while maintaining the openness that is a hallmark of the country’s parliament and society. In the wake of Wednesday’s shooting in Ottawa, Canadian lawmakers returned to work amid calls for increased security that would provide safety while maintaining the openness that is a hallmark of the country’s Parliament and society.
“Some are saying we just lost our innocence,” said Byron Wilfert, a member of the governing Conservative Party. “Security will increase, but a lot will be done to make sure Canadians can still go in their parliament.” “Some are saying we just lost our innocence,” said Byron Wilfert, a member of the governing Conservative Party. “Security will increase, but a lot will be done to make sure Canadians can still go in their Parliament.”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in an address to the House of Commons, said the objective of the attack, and a separate hit-and-run assault two days earlier outside Montreal by a “radicalized” Canadian that also killed a soldier, “was to spread fear and panic in our country.”Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in an address to the House of Commons, said the objective of the attack, and a separate hit-and-run assault two days earlier outside Montreal by a “radicalized” Canadian that also killed a soldier, “was to spread fear and panic in our country.”
“Canadians will never be intimidated,” he said. “We will be vigilant but we will not run scared. We will be prudent, but we will not panic.”“Canadians will never be intimidated,” he said. “We will be vigilant but we will not run scared. We will be prudent, but we will not panic.”
At the same time, Harper said, laws and police powers “need to be strengthened in the area of surveillance, attention and arrest. . . . That work, which is already underway, will be expedited.”At the same time, Harper said, laws and police powers “need to be strengthened in the area of surveillance, attention and arrest. . . . That work, which is already underway, will be expedited.”
One day after Montreal-born Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, 32, was shot and killed by security forces during his rampage in the Canadian capital, authorities said he had acted alone. They said they remained unsure of his motives but suggested that he had been “radicalized” and that he was frustrated by his inability to obtain a passport, with which his family said he hoped to travel to Syria.One day after Montreal-born Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, 32, was shot and killed by security forces during his rampage in the Canadian capital, authorities said he had acted alone. They said they remained unsure of his motives but suggested that he had been “radicalized” and that he was frustrated by his inability to obtain a passport, with which his family said he hoped to travel to Syria.
Harper and his wife, Laureen, placed a wreath Thursday morning at the National War Memorial, where Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, an honor guard, was shot and killed by Zehaf-Bibeau before he headed to parliament. Harper and his wife, Laureen, placed a wreath Thursday morning at the National War Memorial, where Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, an honor guard, was shot and killed by Zehaf-Bibeau before he headed to Parliament.
Canada’s contentious politics were set aside as lawmakers, many of whom had cowered in offices behind barricaded doors the day before, gathered in the House of Commons. Harper thanked Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau and New Democratic Party Leader Tom Mulcair for their “encouraging words.” Although they are political opponents, politicians in Ottawa “are never enemies,” he said. Canada’s contentious politics were set aside as lawmakers, many of whom had cowered in offices behind barricaded doors the day before, gathered in the House of Commons. Harper thanked Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau and New Democratic Party leader Tom Mulcair for their “encouraging words.” Although they are political opponents, politicians in Ottawa “are never enemies,” he said.
After his speech, Harper walked over and embraced the two opposition leaders.After his speech, Harper walked over and embraced the two opposition leaders.
Western allies have grown increasingly concerned about what the Obama administration has said are at least 15,000 foreigners who have traveled to fight with Islamic State militants who now control vast territory in Syria and Iraq. Many of them have come from Europe, the United States and Canada, whose governments fear they will return to launch terrorist attacks at home. Western allies have grown increasingly concerned about what the Obama administration has said are at least 15,000 foreigners who have traveled to fight with Islamic State militants who control vast territory in Syria and Iraq. Many of them have come from Europe, the United States and Canada, whose governments fear they will return to launch terrorist attacks at home.
In response, governments across Europe have been grappling with introducing new anti-terrorism bills. Last month, France approved new legislation that allows authorities to revoke passports and national identity cards of would-be foreign fighters for six months. In response, governments across Europe have been grappling with introducing new anti-terrorism bills. Last month, France approved legislation that allows authorities to revoke passports and national identity cards of would-be foreign fighters for six months.
The German government announced last week that it is planning to introduce new regulations to revoke the identity cards of terror suspects to stop radical Islamists from traveling to combat zones in Syria and Iraq via Turkey, for which a German ID card is a valid travel document. Revocation of passports is already allowed under certain circumstances.The German government announced last week that it is planning to introduce new regulations to revoke the identity cards of terror suspects to stop radical Islamists from traveling to combat zones in Syria and Iraq via Turkey, for which a German ID card is a valid travel document. Revocation of passports is already allowed under certain circumstances.
Asked whether the Obama administration is considering tightening restrictions at the Canadian-U.S. border, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that “at this time, there’s no specific reporting to indicate ongoing events in Canada pose a threat to the United States.” The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, which was locked down Wednesday, was open for business Thursday, Psaki said. Asked whether the Obamaadministration is considering tightening restrictions at theCanadian-U.S. border, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that “at this time, there’s no specific reporting to indicate ongoing events in Canada pose a threat to the United States.” The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, on lockdown Wednesday, was open for business Thursday, Psaki said.
“Obviously, we are all concerned about the threat of homegrown terrorism, about individuals who have sought to travel overseas,” she said. “This is one of the issues, certainly, that we’ve been discussing with our partners around the world. Canada is certainly one of them. But I’m not going to jump to conclusions about what it means at this point in time, given it just happened yesterday.”“Obviously, we are all concerned about the threat of homegrown terrorism, about individuals who have sought to travel overseas,” she said. “This is one of the issues, certainly, that we’ve been discussing with our partners around the world. Canada is certainly one of them. But I’m not going to jump to conclusions about what it means at this point in time, given it just happened yesterday.”
Psaki said that coordination with Canada over those on Ottawa’s watch list was a matter for the Department of Homeland Security, rather than the State Department. But, she said, “I don’t think we have any concerns about the level of coordination or cooperation with Canada.”Psaki said that coordination with Canada over those on Ottawa’s watch list was a matter for the Department of Homeland Security, rather than the State Department. But, she said, “I don’t think we have any concerns about the level of coordination or cooperation with Canada.”
At the White House, press secretary Josh Earnest said that “based on the fact that the Canadian officials have determined that this is a terrorist incident, you should expect that U.S. officials who are responsible for our counterterrorism efforts have also been in touch with their counterparts in Canada to offer assistance and to coordinate both in the investigation and in any needed response.”At the White House, press secretary Josh Earnest said that “based on the fact that the Canadian officials have determined that this is a terrorist incident, you should expect that U.S. officials who are responsible for our counterterrorism efforts have also been in touch with their counterparts in Canada to offer assistance and to coordinate both in the investigation and in any needed response.”
While the U.S. political response to events in Canada was limited, the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (Calif.) used the opportunity to criticize the administration’s initial description of the 2009 Fort Hood, Tex., shooting as “workplace violence,” although that phrase was quickly revised as the facts of the incident became known. While the U.S. political response to events in Canada was limited, the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (Calif.), used the opportunity to criticize the administration’s initial description of the 2009 Fort Hood, Tex., shooting as “workplace violence,” though that phrase was quickly revised as the incident’s facts became known.
“I was impressed with the Canadian government’s swift condemnation of what was obviously an act of terror,” McKeon said in a statement. “I hope the President will follow Prime Minister Harper’s example and recognize terrorist attacks for what they are.”“I was impressed with the Canadian government’s swift condemnation of what was obviously an act of terror,” McKeon said in a statement. “I hope the President will follow Prime Minister Harper’s example and recognize terrorist attacks for what they are.”
In Canada, calls for continued openness accompanied concerns about additional security. Many said that while they recognize the need for enhanced security, they wanted to ensure that the relative openness of Parliament is maintained. In Canada, calls for continued openness accompanied concerns about additional security. Many said that while they recognize the need for enhanced security, they wanted to ensure that Parliament’s relative openness is maintained.
“We will remember who we are and what we are,” said Trudeau, the Liberal Party leader, as he walked away from the war memorial with no visible security detail. “We are a country strengthened by freedom and openness. I’m confident we will find a balance between Canadian democratic values and what is needed for security.”“We will remember who we are and what we are,” said Trudeau, the Liberal Party leader, as he walked away from the war memorial with no visible security detail. “We are a country strengthened by freedom and openness. I’m confident we will find a balance between Canadian democratic values and what is needed for security.”
David Pratt, a former defense minister, said more security is inevitable, but he doubted it would reach the level common in other capitals, such as Washington.David Pratt, a former defense minister, said more security is inevitable, but he doubted it would reach the level common in other capitals, such as Washington.
“Canadians want Parliament to keep the building open, with more discreet security measures,” he said. “But it’s awfully difficult to defend yourself against the lone wolf attack.” “Canadians want Parliament to keep the building open, with more discreet security measures,” he said. “But it’s awfully difficult to defend yourself against the lone-wolf attack.”
Carol Morello in Ottawa, Stephanie Kirchner in Berlin and Karla Adam in London contributed to this report.Carol Morello in Ottawa, Stephanie Kirchner in Berlin and Karla Adam in London contributed to this report.