107th Year - Week 44
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
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WHO’S RUNNING? Smithers, Telkwa candidate profiles.
NEWS/A2
MINI-GRYPHS Boys’ basketball team teach youth.
SPORTS/A11
Clockwise from top left over Parliament’s Hall of Honour, where the Ottawa shooter was gunned down by security: An MP takes this photo inside the Reading Room where the Prime Minister and other government officials are barricaded in by chairs; Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers is credited with stopping the gunman in Parliament’s Centre Block; Flags are lowered to half-mast Wednesday at the Telkwa village office; MP offices are closed the day of the shooting, including Nathan Cullen’s in Smithers. Contributed and Kendra Wong photos
ANTI-LNG CAMP Camp built to stop LNG pipeline.
THREE RIVERS/B1
Security questions after Ottawa shooting By Chris Gareau Smithers/Interior News
INSIDE LETTERS A6 SPORTS A9 COMMUNITY A17 OUR TOWN A18 THREE RIVERS B1 CLASSIFIEDS B2
A government bill that would expand the powers of Canadian security services was scheduled to be introduced this week in the House of Commons. It comes after a gunman last Wednesday morning shot and killed Cpl. Nathan Cirillo as he guarded the National War Memorial in Ottawa before he ran into the Centre Block of Parliament and was killed by security. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his caucus barricaded their door, which opens to the Hall of Honour where the gunman was when he engaged security. The opposition NDP were also holding a caucus meeting across the hall, which is where Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP
Nathan Cullen found himself when the gunfire erupted. “It sounded more like garbage can lids being smashed together. I’ve heard gunshots before but... It’s a very large marble hallway,” said Cullen, who started to leave the room to see the commotion but was stopped by security coming in the room.“Once I saw the security officer’s face, I realized it’s not something usual.” Parliament was back open to the public Monday. Cullen said the debate on what security measures should be put in place after the attack is now being had in Canada. “The jury’s still out. You hear more about this guy and it’s pretty clear there were some addiction and mental health issues, yet he also took a very political route... he attacked and killed a soldier, he attacked our
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seat of democracy,” said Cullen, who hopes the government will work with the opposition on any changes to the law. “We shouldn’t be writing legislation out of fear or sense of revenge,” said Cullen, referring to the personal trauma suffered by MPs so close to danger. “We should be as equally engaged with the things that we’re doing as the things that we shouldn’t be doing,” said Cullen. The 204 Babine Royal Canadian Sea Cadets are hoping they can get their poppy campaign and regular meetings going this week after all cadets in Canada were ordered to not appear in public wearing uniforms. Commanding officer Lt. Deb Snider said a parade in their Smithers building last Wednesday was cancelled.
“I’m also not allowed to wear my uniform in public,” said Snider, who is a member of the reserves, on Friday. Cpl. Cirillo was also a cadet before joining the reserves. The B.C. legislature continued with business last Wednesday, but a security review is under way. Security staff have recommended installation of a security scanner for visitors, a move endorsed by the Liberal and NDP house leaders. Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson said security is a different scenario than it was 20-30 years ago. “I think we need to ensure that the act of a single individual in this case... is not a catalyst used to shut down access to public information and access to politicians and access to the legislature, where debates should be open and transparent,” said Donaldson.
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