Hughes: Let's not act in haste

Wednesday’s attack on Parliament Hill was a terrible event, but it is important that the government take time to digest what has happened and not rush into legislation that might interfere with the rights of Canadians, says Carol Hughes, MP for

“I think we have to be very careful when we craft legislation that we don’t infringe on the Charter of Rights (and Freedoms) or the Constitution,” said Hughes, in a phone interview from Ottawa a day after a soldier was shot and shots rang out in Parliament Hill’s Centre Block.

She expressed concern that Prime Minister Stephen Harper might not take that time, and that legislation crafted in haste may end up needing to be changed, or end up subject to court challenges.

“We’re on the same page with a lot of things, but we’re not on the same page with rushing legislation through,” said Hughes.

The NDP MP said she attended a sombre ceremony this morning in honour of the fallen soldier and a soldier killed in an attack earlier this week in Quebec.

Hughes offered condolences to the slain soldiers’ families and commended the actions of a Parliament Hill security guard who was wounded in yesterday’s attack.

She credited the guard with slowing the assailant down as he made his way into the Centre Block.

Hughes said she had just finished speaking at a regular Wednesday caucus meeting when the gunfire broke out yesterday.

She said a guard - not the one injured in the attack - rushed into the room and held the door with both hands.

“We knew - ‘This is a life and death situation,’” said Hughes.

Michael Zehaf Bibeau has been identified by authorities as the shooter who is suspected of shooting and killing Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a reservist from Hamilton who was standing guard at the National War Memorial.

Authorities say Zehaf Bibeau then attacked Parliament, where he was killed in a gunfight in the Centre Block.

Hughes said she hid under a table with a member of the media who was pushed into the room by security.

She said she was among a group of MPs quickly ushered out of the Centre Block.

Hughes gathered in the Sparks Street office of Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus, watching a surreal scene play out around her - snipers lined the rooftops and “thousands” of people were evacuated from the streets and area businesses.

“It reminded me of an Orson Welles movie - just so many people walking down the street in one direction,” Hughes recalled.

A former Sault resident says she will think twice about attending large events in Ottawa after Wednesday's fatal shoting.

Doris Pavelich was cycling to work in downtown Ottawa at the time the shooting occurred.

“Our store is on Bank Street close to the Hill and I was cycling to work this morning when the shootings happened. A lot of us on the street saw the commotion and the emergency vehicles flying up Bank towards Parliament but we thought it was a bad car accident,” she said Wednesday night by email.

Once she made it to work she was made aware of the seriousness of the situation.

“Like most of the businesses in the area (we were) put on lock down and our staff spent most of the day in our basement level away from the windows,” she said.

Staff at the store Pavelich works at advised customers who were calling in to stay away from the downtown area.

“By 2 p.m. the tension seemed to ease and we could see more traffic moving on the street,” said Pavelich.

She said that when she cycled home at 5 p.m. the streets were back to normal and busy as usual.

“A lot of people were gathered at bus stops and intersections and their talk was of shock and anger at today's events and of course, of sympathy for the families of the victims,” she said.

Pavelich said the shooting has affected the way she feels about the city and hopes it is not the start of a chain of events. She said she may think twice about using public transit or frequenting crowded areas like malls and event in the near future.

“Many people have expressed concerns about the Remembrance Day ceremonies in particular,” she said.