Canada routinely monitors threats, says parliament security after U.S. Capitol Hill violence

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Security officials in Ottawa say they’re constantly assessing the situation, and suggest they are prepared for scenarios similar to the storming of Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday.

The Parliamentary Protective Service confirmed in an emailed statement that it “continuously monitors threats both domestically and abroad; it adjusts its security posture on Parliament Hill and within the parliamentary precinct accordingly.”

In the wake of the chaos in Washington, the Parliamentary Protective Service (which runs security on Parliament Hill) tells me it routinely monitors security incidents and reviews & adjusts security measures accordingly.
Says it is “ready to respond to any eventuality” #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/2nL365cOA8

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) January 7, 2021

Stephanie Carvin, a former government security analyst who now teaches at Carleton University, says security officials in Canada generally take a preventative look at their own strategies any time there is an event like the violent occupation of the Capitol Wednesday.

“If this happens here, are we prepared or do we have the right defences put in place?” she says. “It’s very common that in the wake of this kind of attack, that these kinds of questions are asked.”

Following the Parliament Hill shooting in 2014 and when an armed man drove through the gates of Rideau Hall looking for the prime minister, Carvin says officials conducted reviews and beefed up security.

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She says authorities will also be looking to see if any copycat attacks are being planned, however, it’s unlikely Canada would see such a mob storming of a legislature.

“That said, it doesn’t take a large protest in order for serious acts of violence to occur,” she says.

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She notes right-wing extremism is on the rise in Canada and the bigger threat comes from small groups or lone actors seeking violence.

Four people died amid the violent mob forcing their way into the Capitol building in an emboldened attempt to disrupt the counting of electoral college votes and certify President-Elect Joe Biden’s win.

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While President Donald Trump is promising an orderly transfer of power to Biden later this month, calls are growing for Trump to be removed from office under the 25th Amendment.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Trump should be removed from office immediately, or Congress may impeach him.

“The president of the United States incited an armed insurrection against America,” she said at the Capitol.