Local MPs were among those under lockdown at Parliament Hill after shots were fired inside the building and a soldier was reportedly shot at the National War Memorial on Oct. 22.
"I'm in my office right now … The situation is still unfolding," Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong told the Advertiser by phone about an hour after shots were first reported at Parliament Hill just before 10am.
"I don't know much more than you guys do."
Initial reports offered conflicting accounts of the number of gunmen involved and the extent of injuries to the shooter(s) and the soldier.
It was later reported one gunman was shot and killed, and that Corporal Nathan Cirillo also died.
Shortly after the incident Chong said he had not spoken to any of his colleagues, including Perth-Wellington MP Gary Schellenberger, nor has he heard of any injuries.
"I take some comfort in the fact that I haven't noticed any ambulances leaving [Parliament Hill]," he said.
About 90 minutes after the shooting was first reported, Schellenberger's parliamentary assistant Nathaniel Cousins said he had not yet spoken to the Schellenberger, but had reports confirming the MP is okay.
"They're somewhere in a secure location on the grounds," Cousins told the Advertiser.
Schellenberger himself later confirmed his safety via Twitter.
"Parliament Hill remains in lockdown. I am in a secure location," he tweeted.
Guelph MP Frank Valeriote also reported via Twitter that morning that he was safe and under a lockdown.
"Terrible day," Valeriote tweeted. "Thoughts with War Memorial victim and all first responders right now."
Chong said there is little he and his colleagues can do, other than to watch updates on the television.
"It's tough," he said.
However, Chong remained adamant that when the situation is resolved, Parliament should carry on with its regular business.
"We can't let people like this intimidate us," he said. "I feel strongly that if the gunman is apprehended … Parliament should resume as it normally does…"
Reports surfaced online that MPs were told on Oct. 22 to close their constituency offices in light of the events in Ottawa.
Schellenberger confirmed on Twitter his Stratford office was closed (his Mount Forest office is not open Wednesdays), while Chong's Fergus office remained open, though staff members there locked the door as a precaution.
