In the wake of the Manchester terrorist attack, one City Councillor says he'd like to see the military come in to support Ottawa Police during high-profile events, like Canada Day.
Kanata South Councillor Allan Hubley tells CFRA's Ottawa Now that having soldiers on guard would free up police officers for more hands-on security work.
“I’m watching what they’re doing in Britain, and some of the steps they’re taking there are things we could look at doing for Canada Day,” he says. “They’re bringing in the military to help free up police officers from duties such as traffic control, so you can have trained police officers doing hands-on security. Let’s free them up from some of those types of duties for the high-people count events such as Canada Day.”
This year’s Canada Day event is more high-profile than usual, being Canada’s 150th birthday. Hubley says Ottawa’s security services are prepared for Canada Day this year, but the military could be helpful.
“We do have a plan. Police have a plan. Our emergency services have a plan in place. We’re doing all the necessary preparations. Now it’s a matter of making sure we have enough bodies there to keep everybody good and safe.”
A spokesperson for the Department of National Defense says requests of that nature would go through the Ministry of Public Safety. A request for comment from Public Safety has not yet been returned.
Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale has said Canada's terror threat level remains unchanged at "medium" in the wake of the suicide bombing in Manchester. The threat level has been at medium since the October 2014 attack on Parliament Hill, in which Corporal Nathan Cirillo was killed at the National War Memorial.