Update #1: 2014 Parliament Hill Attacks//Poll
Terrorist attacks in major cities had grown dramatically with examples such as 9/11, the 7/7 attacks and the Madrid train bombing. It was something that was tragically becoming all too common. Something that all security experts could agree on was that Canada was by far not immune to a terrorist attack of that nature. On October 20, twenty-five year old Martin Couture-Rouleau rammed his car into two soldiers of the Canadian Armed Forces in a shopping centre in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, killing both soldiers and leading police on a pursuit that would ultimately kill Rouleau. The following day, the terror threat level would be raised from “light” to “medium” due to "an increase in online 'general chatter' from radical groups including Islamic State and al-Qaeda." The following day, a series of events would unfold which would shake the landscape of Canada for the foreseeable future.
At 10:00 a.m. the next day, witnesses saw a man armed with a rifle arrive at the National War Memorial. A man who later became to be identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau. Bibeau approached Corporal Nathan Cirillo and would shoot him twice in the back. Bystanders and his follow sentries would rush to his aid, applying and trying to resuscitate Cirillo. Paramedics would rush Cirillo to hospital but it was all too late. He had sustained fatal injuries and at the age of 24 he passed away. Bibeau would then drive west along Wellington St to Parliament Hill where he would run through a gate and hijack a parliamentary vehicle and drive to Centre Block. He entered Centre Block through the main entrance where RCMP Constable Samearn Son spotted Bibeau and attempted to disarm him. He would get shot in the foot and in one of the many raw moments of the attack, limped out and told a CBC reporter that “I will survive.” Zheaf-Bibeau ran along the Hall of Honour towards the Library of Parliament, as he was running down the corridor, he passed the committee rooms of the Conservatives and the NDP. Tory MPs had started to barricade themselves with chairs and began to use flagpoles as spears in case but their actions were too late, Zheaf-Bibeau entered the room and opened fire on the 159 MPs in the room, wounding 15 MPs, killing 9 and the most shocking of all, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was seriously injured by flying rounds as several MPs were trying to usher him into a closet. Zheaf-Bibeau would then try to enter the NDP caucus room but to no avail. Two NDP MPs were injured as a result of rounds that had penetrated the outer doors of the room.
Bibeau would then reach an alcove by the entrance of the Library of Parliament and hid out of sight of RCMP officers. Kevin Vickers, the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons who’s office is near the alcove obtained a handgun from his lockbox and entered the hall. His security team yelled at him telling that he was hiding the alcove. Vickers than ran behind a nearby column and fired at Bibeau. RCMP Constable Curtis Barrett would then fatally shoot Bibeau, ending the tragic ordeal. The Prime Minister would be evacuated by his security detail to nearby Saint-Vincent Hospital where the Prime Minister would go into surgery. Tragically at 12:18 p.m, Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the man who built his party into the powerhouse it was today, passed away. At the end of the day, 20 people were injured and 12 including the Prime Minister and Zehaf-Bibeau were killed. The nation was brought to it’s knees.
The following day, the country was still in disbelief that such an attack could’ve happened in the heart of the nation. Politicians and people alike from across the aisle and across the country expressed an outpour of grief. As the nation was in mourning, it wasn’t clear who was Prime Minister for several hours. Soon enough the cabinet would quickly rally around Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird and with a impromptu caucus vote, John Baird was confirmed as leader and therefore Prime Minister. He would be whisked to Rideau Hall where he would be sworn in as Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister. After his swearing-in, John Baird asked Governor General David Johnston to prorogue Parliament for 24 days for which his request was granted out of respect for the victims of the attack and also to calm the chaos in the halls of Parliament Hill. The House of Commons would resume its sitting on November 17 with a touching question period, with fellow MPs sharing stories of fellow colleagues and tributes to those who were fallen. In the following days, the country had returned to a sense of normalcy. The questions that ensued were why, why did these tragic events unfold but the more pressing question was if John Baird would led the Tories into the looming 2015 federal election or would a leadership race ensue within the party. Ultimately however, the Conservative Party National Council would vote narrowly 11-9 in favour of holding a leadership race. Numerous critics said that the last thing the party needed was a divisive leadership race ensuing while others praised the Tories for their “grassroots democracy” in letting their members chose their leader. A number of people that were rumoured to jump in the race included John Tory, Christine Elliott, Candice Bergen, Chuck Strahl and even current Prime Minister John Baird and some of his fellow cabinet ministers. With a potential list of over 12 candidates running for the leadership, the race was already in full gear. The question was if the Tories could stay united through this or would the cracks in the party be broke wide open.
As phone calls were being made across the country, a call was strangely being made from an office tower in Miami.
At 10:00 a.m. the next day, witnesses saw a man armed with a rifle arrive at the National War Memorial. A man who later became to be identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau. Bibeau approached Corporal Nathan Cirillo and would shoot him twice in the back. Bystanders and his follow sentries would rush to his aid, applying and trying to resuscitate Cirillo. Paramedics would rush Cirillo to hospital but it was all too late. He had sustained fatal injuries and at the age of 24 he passed away. Bibeau would then drive west along Wellington St to Parliament Hill where he would run through a gate and hijack a parliamentary vehicle and drive to Centre Block. He entered Centre Block through the main entrance where RCMP Constable Samearn Son spotted Bibeau and attempted to disarm him. He would get shot in the foot and in one of the many raw moments of the attack, limped out and told a CBC reporter that “I will survive.” Zheaf-Bibeau ran along the Hall of Honour towards the Library of Parliament, as he was running down the corridor, he passed the committee rooms of the Conservatives and the NDP. Tory MPs had started to barricade themselves with chairs and began to use flagpoles as spears in case but their actions were too late, Zheaf-Bibeau entered the room and opened fire on the 159 MPs in the room, wounding 15 MPs, killing 9 and the most shocking of all, Prime Minister Stephen Harper was seriously injured by flying rounds as several MPs were trying to usher him into a closet. Zheaf-Bibeau would then try to enter the NDP caucus room but to no avail. Two NDP MPs were injured as a result of rounds that had penetrated the outer doors of the room.
Bibeau would then reach an alcove by the entrance of the Library of Parliament and hid out of sight of RCMP officers. Kevin Vickers, the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons who’s office is near the alcove obtained a handgun from his lockbox and entered the hall. His security team yelled at him telling that he was hiding the alcove. Vickers than ran behind a nearby column and fired at Bibeau. RCMP Constable Curtis Barrett would then fatally shoot Bibeau, ending the tragic ordeal. The Prime Minister would be evacuated by his security detail to nearby Saint-Vincent Hospital where the Prime Minister would go into surgery. Tragically at 12:18 p.m, Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the man who built his party into the powerhouse it was today, passed away. At the end of the day, 20 people were injured and 12 including the Prime Minister and Zehaf-Bibeau were killed. The nation was brought to it’s knees.
The following day, the country was still in disbelief that such an attack could’ve happened in the heart of the nation. Politicians and people alike from across the aisle and across the country expressed an outpour of grief. As the nation was in mourning, it wasn’t clear who was Prime Minister for several hours. Soon enough the cabinet would quickly rally around Foreign Affairs Minister, John Baird and with a impromptu caucus vote, John Baird was confirmed as leader and therefore Prime Minister. He would be whisked to Rideau Hall where he would be sworn in as Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister. After his swearing-in, John Baird asked Governor General David Johnston to prorogue Parliament for 24 days for which his request was granted out of respect for the victims of the attack and also to calm the chaos in the halls of Parliament Hill. The House of Commons would resume its sitting on November 17 with a touching question period, with fellow MPs sharing stories of fellow colleagues and tributes to those who were fallen. In the following days, the country had returned to a sense of normalcy. The questions that ensued were why, why did these tragic events unfold but the more pressing question was if John Baird would led the Tories into the looming 2015 federal election or would a leadership race ensue within the party. Ultimately however, the Conservative Party National Council would vote narrowly 11-9 in favour of holding a leadership race. Numerous critics said that the last thing the party needed was a divisive leadership race ensuing while others praised the Tories for their “grassroots democracy” in letting their members chose their leader. A number of people that were rumoured to jump in the race included John Tory, Christine Elliott, Candice Bergen, Chuck Strahl and even current Prime Minister John Baird and some of his fellow cabinet ministers. With a potential list of over 12 candidates running for the leadership, the race was already in full gear. The question was if the Tories could stay united through this or would the cracks in the party be broke wide open.
As phone calls were being made across the country, a call was strangely being made from an office tower in Miami.
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