TIMELINE: SECURING OTTAWA
1976 The RCMP install 10 television surveillance cameras on Parliament Hill and the Langevin Block.
1982 Identification badges are issued to House of Commons personnel and members of the press gallery, and airport-style metal detectors are introduced at entrances to the Commons gallery.
1985 The Turkish Embassy is attacked by three militants in a rented truck. The men scale a security gate, blast open the front door using a homemade bomb and take hostages. Police are on the scene within three minutes and the gunmen surrender four hours later.
1997 Measures are introduced to keep non-official vehicles off Parliament Hill, including a checkpoint manned by guards.
2001 The federal government scrambles to create a body of laws to detect, deter and prosecute terrorism in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Potential anthrax attacks and germ warfare become the source of heightened concern.
2004 An anthrax scare at Ottawa City Hall prompts emergency crews to seal off the building for four hours.
2005 Despite warnings from the federal government that a terrorist strike on Canada is likely, a poll finds that most Ottawa residents see a flu pandemic as the most serious threat to public safety.
2009 Protesting members of Greenpeace climb onto the roof of the Parliament Buildings.
2010 The federal government issues a notice for expressions of interest from companies capable of installing an integrated security system supporting 3,000 video cameras, 4,000 card readers, 1,500 duress alarm buttons, 3,000 alarm sensors and motion detectors.
2013 More than $8 million worth of heavy, retractable metal bollards are installed to guard the three main vehicular gates on Parliament Hill against a four-wheeled assault.
2014 Parliament Hill is attacked by lone gunman Michael ZehafBibeau, who fatally shoots Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and enters the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings, where sergeant at arms Kevin Vickers shoots and kills him. An Ottawa police report later says conflicting eyewitness reports and limited communication between police forces contributed to confusion about how many suspects were involved.
2015 The Parliamentary Protection Services is established the secure the parliamentary precinct and the grounds of Parliament Hill. Increased security measures include RCMP officers armed with carbines, manned police vehicles and a new intelligence unit that liaises with domestic and international police and security agencies. That year, the Ottawa courthouse introduces metal detectors and X-ray machines for everyone entering the building.
2017 Canadians planning to gather on Parliament Hill for Canada 150 celebrations face beefed-up security. Police expect to search 10,000 people an hour, but partygoers report long waits. “Three to four hours in a queue line waiting to get on the Hill — clearly that is not acceptable,” says Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleau.