October 22 will be a day that Souris-Moose Mountain MP Ed Komarnicki will never forget, as he was witness to the extraordinary events that included the shooting of a soldier at Canada’s National War Monument, followed by a shootout inside the Central Block of the Parliament Buildings.
Gathering with the Conservative caucus, Komarnicki said, “I heard some booms that got my attention, then I heard live fire from small arms, from what I heard. … First we decided to lock the doors. The hardest part was not knowing what we were dealing with.”
He described how the Conservative members hunkered down and watched the doors to make sure no one came bursting in. After the bursts of gunfire, it was quiet for a while before they were informed that the gunman had been shot; they were then told to wait, as the Parliament had to be searched and cleared, and all personnel were in lock-down until that could be done.
In the end, the lone gunman, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, lay dead near the Parliamentary Library, after the sergeant-at-arms Keith Vickers shot him dead, and Canadians, shaken by the violence in the nation’s capital, poured out their grief and anger with memorials in honour of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was gunned down standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Late that evening, the MPs and staff were finally allowed to leave the Parliament Buildings. “It was quite a surreal moment to walk out and see sharpshooters on the roofs, and a row of heavily-armed people securing the walk from the doors (of Parliament) to the bus. It’s something I’ll remember for a long time, that and the live fire exchange.”
He noted that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a number of MPs gathered at the War Memorial on Thursday morning to pay tribute to Cpl. Cirillo.
“It was an experience I’ll never forget. I’m happy it didn’t turn out any worse,” he said.
The same day of the shooting, Saskatchewan MLAs were getting ready for Premier Brad Wall to present the Throne Speech.
“Usually the ceremonies for the Speech from the Throne are quite heavy, but many of the plans were cancelled due to the shooting in Ottawa,” said Dustin Duncan, MLA for Weyburn-Big Muddy and Minister of Health.
The province cancelled the 15 Wing Moose Jaw flypast, the outdoor ceremony and the traditional 15-gun salute, and moved the traditional inspection of the military honour guard by Lt.-Governor Vaughn Schofield indoors. As soon as the inspection was completed, all the members in the legislature rotunda started to applaud the military members.
Duncan noted how spectacular that moment was, with members applauding the military members without any notice or previous announcement.
In addition, security was increased around the Legislature building, inside and outside. “The security was a lot higher than what we are used to,” said Duncan.
The shooting also touched Mayor Debra Button in a very emotional and personal perspective. Button is president of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), and in that capacity is Saskatchewan’s representative with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
“Every November, FCM members go to Ottawa and have our advocacy day, where we stay in the area close to Parliament Hill for five days,” said Button.
“When the shooting occurred, it was very clear in my mind where it happened, and I was very emotional as I listened to the news reports. … Our life does change, very quickly. As a country of peace-makers, we were touched by this shooting, like we never have been before in my time,” said Button. “As a mother, I am now worried about the future of our children, and if they will have the same freedoms that I do.”
