23 hours Ago By Staff Reporter
Share this Story : A quick history of attacks and protests on Parliament Hill Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links News Local News A quick history of attacks and protests on Parliament Hill From a hostage taker to climate protests, the Hill has been the scene of high drama, and often violence. Author of the article: Staff Reporter Published Apr 05, 2025 • 2 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account.
Michael Zehaf-Bibeau is pictured in this RCMP security video footage from 2014. RCMP Article content Saturday’s lockdown on Parliament Hill was the latest of many security-related incidents in the parliamentary precinct. Here are seven high-profile cases from the past.
May 1966: Paul Joseph Chartier died when he accidentally detonated dynamite tucked into his coat, which he’d planned to lob into the ranks of “rich and greedy” politicians while in the men’s bathroom outside the House of Commons. Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson was handed a note alerting him to the incident a few minutes later, but Question Period continued.
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Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content June 1987: A middle-aged man in a Hawaiian shirt walked into the House of Commons, passed MPs, grabbed the Speaker’s golden mace, and shouted: “I protest this treason.
This country is under attack from within.” Michael Charette was protesting the Meech Lake Accord. April 1989: Charles Yacoub, armed and reportedly demanding the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon, hijacked a Greyhound bus in Montreal and demanded the driver take him to Ottawa and onto Parliament Hill.
Buildings for a three-block radius were evacuated during an eight-hour standoff in which Yacoub fired on a group of American tourists. February 1997: An Ottawa school janitor who would later be found to be too mentally ill to be responsible for his actions drove a blue Jeep Cherokee up two staircases to just short of the main door of Centre Block. December 2009: Greenpeace activists weren’t detected as they scaled West Block and rappelled from the roof to unfurl banners protesting Canadian inaction on climate change and the oilsands.
Twenty were arrested, and the RCMP boosted its security presence. Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content October 2014: Lone-wolf attacker Michael Zehaf-Bibeau fatally shot Cpl.
Nathan Cirillo as he guarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, then hijacked a ministerial car to drive up to Centre Block, which he entered with an old rifle before being fatally shot. January-February 2022 : Truckers and others protesting vaccine mandates and other government actions laid siege to Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill for about three weeks, honking horns, erecting a stage and bringing in bouncy castles and hot tubs. Court action is still ongoing.
Recommended from Editorial East Block of Parliament Hill locked down by protective service Federal money gives Ottawa police boost around Parliament Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : A quick history of attacks and protests on Parliament Hill Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Comments You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments. Create an Account Sign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful.
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