Your thoughts on the shooting on Parliament hill

Our society is based on fundamental legal principles. One of those principles is that a victim can not make justice for itself.

We, MPs in the House of Commons, have been the victim of an attempted murder by what appears increasingly to be an isolated act of someone with psychological distress. We as MPs have the power to change laws. I firmly believe that in the case before us, we must make an extra effort to keep a cool head and have the interests of citizens at the center of our concerns. We must not upset the delicate balance between security and individual rights without a real social debate. We need to reflect on the tragedy that has occurred and avoid the temptation to drift to a paranoid security obsession.

We must not give in to fear. We should not act on the heat of the moment without a thorough reflexion and debate.

Tell me what you think about the events and what should come next:


Showing 260 reactions

  • While what occurred in Ottawa is tragic it does not justify using it as a wedge to further the present government’s ideological agenda. It brings to mind the following observation made by Kissinger:


    “Today, America would be outraged if U.N. troops entered Los Angeles to restore order. Tomorrow they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told that there were an outside threat from beyond, whether real or promulgated, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will plead to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to them by the World Government.”

    - Henry Kissinger, Bilderberger Conference in Evians, France, 1991


    We have witnessed the ways in which both the American and Canadian governments have manipulated events by way of gaining further access to and invading ever more deeply personal data. It’s a thin line between protecting democratic rights and abusing them. I feel extremely chary entrusting my safety to the same politicians whose ideologies generated the risk to my well being in the first place. What is needed is not greater security measures but greater ways to measure the humanity of our policies. Reason before passion as the former prime minister Trudeau was fond of saying.
  • Take the time needed to examine what happened and determine the right course of action. What happened in Ottawa showed naivety and complacency in our government and our security measures. Personally I think increasing security at Parliament and other government buildings/military bases is the right step. And arm our soldiers! whether they be ornamental or otherwise. They’re soldiers and are here to protect and serve Canada….it’s shameful and embarrassing our domestic ON DUTY soldiers are not armed.
  • Please don’t let this event be used as an excuse to increase spying and take away personal liberties.
  • In my opinion we need to make sure we do not rush into changes as this is only 2 incidents that has happened. If any changes need to be made it should be in a rational way with input from all parties
  • Let’s not have this regrettable incident be exploited by the Harper government to further erode our democratic freedoms.
  • I see these two killings as unrelated, and largely performed by two young disaffected men – both of whom were probably mentally unbalanced. Even one or more suicide killers would not an army make, and I fear the Harper government will use what has happened as an excuse to bring in legislation based on fear. That will be whipped up by the media, as is probably already happening (I don’t watch TV!). It will be used as a wonderful excuse for more surveillance, more control of opposition to government policies. We are rapidly turning into a police state, and this will do it more.

    I am of course sorry about the deaths of the two soldiers, but hope that won’t lead to more arms in the House. We have only to look south to see what a proliferation of guns brings. Turnstiles and other methods of controlling ingress to any buildings where increased protection may be needed are far better than guns.

    We need more tax money to be spent on mental health in all its aspects, rather than on making war. We also need a long gun registry – but what should and must come next is a change of government, before we lose what little semblance of democracy remains to us.
  • Two lone-wolf nutcases are not a conspiracy. Even if the motivation was “political” as the RCMP seem to want to prove, the politics did not involve direct contact with any co-conspirators. We need to make sure our civil liberties are not eroded in the aftermath of these events.
  • What is going own is so bad, mayme so sad. But we don’t need to rush. We need the check and balance in our democracy, we have already laws that can take care is this problems, but has to be done in the right way. Dont le them to take away the rights of everybody, we don’t new laws, what need the check and balances of our security forces, to be sure they do the right thing witout taking away what the Constitution protect us. They eager to spy in everybody. To control everybody, to give more powers to the big brother. Please, dont let them to rush, do not let them to have this excusr to take aways our rights.

    So sad for the Soldiers that where killed, so sad too for this persons that took the decision to killed and get killed, that put in jeopardy our democracy. We again when in a rush to bombard Irak and probably Siria,to kill more people, more inoncent people, like in Libia, Yuguslavia and Irak, all that mess for nothing, who want to killed people, innocent people of guilty people is wrong. That what happen in Irak, thousands and thousands of people where Killed in Irak before and we are going again to kill more people, people became crease and do things, find excuses to kill more people. The individuals that killed our soldiers where wrong and the pay big time for time, they pay we their life; dont let that our democracy felt too because of this mess that has been created for so many years, we need to aply the Law that we have, to protected our country and put in jail whoever infringe them but in the frame of our rights.
  • I agree totally with what GR has written.
  • The Bibeau Incident requires no more stringent laws in Canada. Mr. Bibeau was suffering from a mental illness. Harper is looking for an excuse to enlaw more draconian measures than are necessary. He must justify the four billion dollar CSIS (et cetera) building somehow. As a burgeoning fascist dictator, he is looking for a way to increase his power base. Canada has not changed because of this one incident even if Steve thinks it should!
  • I find the Conservative Government scary as hell! Why do they feel it necessary to spy on the Canadian people? The timing of this shooting seems very beneficial for Harper’s interests. It feels like Canada could easily become a police state in the near future. It is not the disturbed gun man that poses a threat to Canada; it is our current government and their agenda to destroy our democracy and take away our rights.
  • keep our freedom
  • Having a government that acts without the proper debate, weighing the pros and cons of each piece of legislation brings that government closer to becoming a police state. There is a balance that needs to be up held.
  • Existing resources are probably adequate, to combat home grown radicals.
  • I also believe that any changes to the laws governing policing and the individual’s rights must be considered very carefully. We must have an investigation and review all information, prior to enacting or changing any laws. Freedoms and rights for all must be balanced with the safety of all citizens. Rash actions now may adversely affect our freedoms in the future. Once eroded, these liberties are hard fought to be regained.
  • Increase support for people with mental illness.

    Teach peace everywhere.

    You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war. Let’s prevent it.

    Restore our reputation as global peacekeepers.
  • There is much lamenting by our elected officials, by the media, portraying the recent gun violence in Ottawa, at the Parliament buildings as an attack on the heart of Canadian democracy. While recent events were violent, they were hardly an attack on our democracy.

    Our democracy is indeed under attack but not from any foreign threat.


    A Prime Minister and ruling party which refuses to provide information to Parliamentarians, information which is necessary for them to do their jobs, that is an attack on the heart of Canadian democracy.

    When a Prime Minister and his Cabinet lie to House of Commons concerning the costs of various endevours, that is an attack on the heart of Canadian democracy.

    A governing party which pushes through 400 plus page omnibus bills which change laws and protections built up over generations, that is an attack on the heart of Canadian democracy.

    When the ruling party takes it orders from corporate interest groups and passes legislation to corporate dictates, that is an attack on the heart of Canadian democracy.

    When the PM and his party negotiate trade deals in secret, offering the end product as fait accompli, with no input from citizens and no debate in Parliament, that is an attack on the heart of Canadian democracy.

    When the ruling party pushes through legislation which it should know is at odds with the Canadian Charter of Rights, with our constitution, that is an attack on the heart of Canadian democracy.

    When PM and ruling party attack any and all Canadian political, social institutions, such as the attack on the Supreme Court, the attacks on the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the attacks on Elections Canada, that stand in the way of implementing the PMs ideologically motivated agenda, that is an attack on the heart of Canadian democracy.

    When the PM and his party are involved in illegal acts such as the Duffey housing expense scandal, and lie about it and do not co-operate with investigators, that is an attack on the heart of Canadian democracy.

    When the PM and his party try to get around the constitution and Charter of rights by attaching amendments to omnibus bills, try to change the rules of the game to suit their purposes, rather than following the legitimate procedures to change institutions such as the senate and the supreme court, that is an attack on the heart of Canadian democracy.

    When you have a PM and ruling party that think nothing of using the power of the state to interfere in free collective bargaining, that is an attack on Canadian democracy.


    When you have a PM and his party seemingly intoxicated by the idea of Canada going to war, of becoming a military aggressor, becoming involved in conflicts worldwide without the approval of the world body, the UN, that is an attack on the heart of Canadian democracy.


    The attack on the heart of Canadian democracy has been going on quietly for some years now, without guns, without overt bloodshed, but sadly with what will be long-lasting effects.
  • There should be increased funding for mental health services especially for people in a low-income bracket including more robust services with highly attentive staff, increased access to services, more innovative options for treatment. Instead of increasing he budget and task force for CSIS it should be spent on helping people with mental health issues.
  • Well said.
  • we should not panic and create some legislation that will interfere with our freedom , and we do need a committee to oversee the police and any group that is granted leg. to arrest ,confine ,to protect our safety .
  • The actions of one man should not condemn an entire people, nor their religion. If this were to happen, Canada would have lost all values it may have held dear at some point in our lives.
  • The first thing should be a complete public analysis of what went wrong with the system that led these loners to act. Second there should be a public inquiry on how to deal with this who have mental problems and drug addiction. This should include evaluating and ending the failed and counter productive War on Drugs. Finally there should be an modest reevaluation of Security around Parliament,
  • The first thing should be a complete public analysis of what went wrong with the system that led these loners to act. Second there should be a public inquiry on how to deal with this who have mental problems and drug addiction. This should include evaluating and ending the failed and counter productive War on Drugs. Finally there should be an modest reevaluation of Security around Parliament,
  • We should not be too quick to change our laws in a foolish attempt to prevent “terrorists” from attacking us. What has occurred in Canada appears to be a combination of mental illness and wrath at the country’s choice to engage in wars that kill people in predominantly moslem states. Instead of increasing surveillance and becoming a police state, we should be both asking ourselves how we can better address the needs of the mentally ill and seriously examining our foreign policy.
  • This action is a racist response to instil fear in people. Please resist the temptation to get on an anti-Islam bandwagon. Our laws are sufficient to protect us. We need to think about why military personnel are being targeted. Maybe our actions abroad are coming back to haunt us?
  • This action is a racist response to instil fear in people. Please resist the temptation to get on an anti-Islam bandwagon. Our laws are sufficient to protect us. We need to think about why military personnel are being targeted. Maybe our actions abroad are coming back to haunt us?
  • To me this man was mentally unstable and should never had access to a gun period. I am a sport shooter who owns handguns legally and long rifles as well. I am saddened by what he did but don’t go crazy and blame all gun owners with more restrictive laws. 99.99% of us are law abiding g folks who will suffer from the actions of one idiot if you do.
  • I’ve heard this guy was mentally ill. I wonder how many of the people CSIS claims they are watching are actually just mentally ill? I wonder if we aren’t better to strengthen our mental health laws rather than spying on everyone?
  • I beieve this shooting is due to mental illness and has nothing to do with policing at all. I would like to see proposals to increase mental health funding in this country first and foremost.
  • The response from political leaders and the media has been far too over the top. As a long time CCF/NDP supporter, I must include Tom Mulcair’s response in this criticism. While I was pleased to see the NDP’s opposition to the intervention against ISIS, Tom’s anti-terrorist remarks following what what were likely uncoordinated actions by deranged individuals will now be held up as proof by the Conservatives that joining the war was the right thing to do. We need a measured approach that is not scared off by Harper’s criticism of anyone who speaks about the causes of the turmoil in the Middle East. Instead what is needed is a front-on attack on Harper’s “the cause of terrorism is terrorists” approach to this aspect of foreign policy. The NDP’s apparent shift from a balanced position to one which is more pro-Israel and more anti-Palestinian is also not helpful in this respect. Who will benefit most from the over-reaction to recent events will be the Conservatives in their drive to increase Canadian militarism while at the same time decreasing civil liberties by needlessly increasing police powers. The NDP must work harder to improve its credibility in opposing these policies.

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