North Shore MPs recalled hearing semi-automatic gunfire outside the caucus meeting room before Parliament was locked down Wednesday following a shooting in the nation's capital.
But despite the dramatic events, West Vancouver MP John Weston said it's important for Canadians not to be intimidated and to stand on guard for Canada's democratic institutions.
Both Weston and North Vancouver MP Andrew Saxton agreed, however, that Canada's age of innocence on security threats is likely changed for good.
"It's a wake-up call," said Saxton. "We're not immune to what's going on out there. It has come home."
Weston said he was in a Conservative caucus meeting Wednesday morning, expecting to discuss a national health and fitness bill, when "suddenly there were two large bangs." Both MPs said the sounds caught everyone's attention. Then there was the sound of "this rain of bullets - they seemed to be coming on both sides of the room," said Weston. "It was right outside the door," said Saxton. "Everybody hit the deck."
The MPs said they later found out most of the shots they heard were fired by Parliament Hill security forces going after the man who shot his way into the building after killing a military guard at the national cenotaph. But at the time that wasn't clear.
"We were thinking there were a number of gunman who might be shooting at security. .. and we were their ultimate targets," said Saxton. "We thought multiple gunmen were trying to take down the government. We absolutely felt if there were numerous gunmen they were going to kill us."
Several members of the caucus with backgrounds in the RCMP and military service quickly jumped into action, said Weston, throwing chairs against doors in the room to act as a barricade and grabbing flag poles to use as weapons against a possible attacker, he said. "We were certainly at one point expecting the worst." Prime Minister Stephen Harper was with MPs in the meeting room during the early moments of the drama but was quickly whisked away by security to "a safe place," said Saxton, while the caucus remained under lockdown inside the building. By that point, the gunman - identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau - had been shot and killed by House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers near the Library of Parliament.
But police and security took several hours to search the Parliament buildings to make sure there was no second gunman.
As the incident continued, MPs were able to contact their families and assure everyone they were safe, said Weston. They were also able to follow the unfolding events over the Internet.
The showdown in the Centre Block of Parliament followed the fatal shooting of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a soldier standing guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a short distance from Parliament Hill. The gunman then reportedly drove a short distance to the Centre Block of Parliament and exchanged gunfire with security there before walking past the room where the Conservative caucus was meeting. He was then confronted by Parliament Hill security and RCMP officers and shot by Vickers.
Weston said it was important for MPs to go back to Parliament on Thursday and show that Canada's democratic institutions are still functioning.
Both MPs said the incident means Ottawa will have to consider new measures that balance citizens' freedoms with greater security.
Both Weston and Saxton praised the security response.
"I have great admiration and gratitude for security people on the hill," Weston said.
