Sincere condolences to the families of Corporal Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent.

Speech from the Prime Minister

MY FELLOW CANADIANS,
FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS WEEK
THERE HAS BEEN
A BRUTAL AND VIOLENT ATTACK
ON OUR SOIL.

TODAY, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS
ARE WITH THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF
CORPORAL NATHAN CIRILLO
OF THE ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA.

CORPORAL CIRILLO WAS KILLED TODAY
– MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD –
AS HE PROVIDED A CEREMONIAL HONOUR GUARD AT CANADA’S NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL.

THAT SACRED PLACE
THAT PAYS TRIBUTE
TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
SO THAT WE CAN LIVE
IN A FREE, DEMOCRATIC AND SAFE SOCIETY.

LIKEWISE,
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS REMAIN ALSO
WITH THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF
WARRANT OFFICER PATRICE VINCENT,
WHO WAS KILLED EARLIER THIS WEEK
BY AN ISIL-INSPIRED TERRORIST.

TONIGHT WE ALSO PRAY
FOR THE SPEEDY RECOVERY
OF THE OTHERS INJURED
IN THESE DESPICABLE ATTACKS.

FELLOW CANADIANS,
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN REMINDED TODAY
OF THE COMPASSIONATE AND COURAGEOUS NATURE OF SO MANY CANADIANS.

LIKE THOSE PRIVATE CITIZENS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO CAME TO PROVIDE AID TO CORPORAL CIRILLO AS HE FOUGHT FOR HIS LIFE

AND, OF COURSE THE MEMBERS
OF OUR SECURITY FORCES
IN THE RCMP, THE CITY OF OTTAWA POLICE,
AND IN PARLIAMENT
WHO CAME QUICKLY,
AND AT GREAT RISK TO THEMSELVES,
TO ASSIST THOSE OF US
WHO WERE CLOSE TO THE ATTACK.

FELLOW CANADIANS,
IN THE DAYS TO COME,
WE WILL LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE TERRORIST
AND ANY ACCOMPLICES
HE MAY HAVE HAD.

BUT THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
ARE A GRIM REMINDER
THAT CANADA IS NOT IMMUNE
TO THE TYPES OF. ATTACKS
WE HAVE SEEN ELSEWHERE
AROUND THE WORLD.

WE ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT,
– ATTACKS ON OUR SECURITY PERSONNEL
– AND OUR INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNANCE
ARE, BY THEIR VERY NATURE
ATTACKS ON OUR COUNTRY.

ON OUR VALUES,
ON OUR SOCIETY,
ON US, CANADIANS,
AS A FREE AND DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE
WHO EMBRACE HUMAN DIGNITY FOR ALL.

BUT LET THERE BE NO MISUNDERSTANDING,
WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED.
CANADA WILL NEVER BE INTIMIDATED.

IN FACT, THIS WILL LEAD US
TO STRENGTHEN OUR RESOLVE
AND REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS
AND THOSE OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCIES,

TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS
TO IDENTIFY AND COUNTER THREATS,
AND KEEP CANADA SAFE HERE AT HOME

JUST AS IT WILL LEAD US
TO STRENGTHEN OUR RESOLVE
AND REDOUBLE OUR EFFORTS
TO WORK WITH OUR ALLIES AROUND THE WORLD

AND FIGHT AGAINST THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS WHO BRUTALIZE THOSE IN OTHER COUNTRIES WITH THE HOPE OF BRINGING THEIR SAVAGERY TO OUR SHORES.

THEY WILL HAVE NO SAFE HAVEN.

WHILE TODAY HAS BEEN, WITHOUT QUESTION,
A DIFFICULT DAY,
I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT CANADIANS
WILL PULL TOGETHER
WITH THE KIND OF FIRM SOLIDARITY
THAT HAS SEEN OUR COUNTRY
THROUGH MANY CHALLENGES.

TOGETHER, WE WILL REMAIN VIGILANT
AGAINST THOSE,
AT HOME OR ABROAD,
WHO WISH TO HARM US

FOR NOW,
LAUREEN,BEN, RACHEL AND I
JOIN ALL CANADIANS
IN PRAYING FOR THOSE
TOUCHED BY TODAY’S ATTACK.

MAY GOD BLESS THEM,
AND KEEP OUR LAND
GLORIOUS AND FREE.