Tracking P.E.I.’s MLAs

Police request MLAs’ Canada Day plans in light of Ottawa terrorist attacks

Citing concerns over recent terrorist attacks in Canada and abroad, police and public safety officials in Prince Edward Island took special precautions to monitor the safety of the province’s 27 MLAs and their families on Canada Day this week.

On June 30, an email was sent to all members of the P.E.I. legislative assembly from the provincial office of public safety, notifying them that police agencies wanted to know the Canada Day celebration plans for all MLAs and their families.

The email stated this was the result of the national security threat assessment surrounding July 1st and July 4th celebrations.

“It is noted that no specific security threat is identified in Canada or P.E.I. and no specific target is identified around these dates,” director of public safety Aaron Campbell wrote in the June 30 email.

“That being stated, there remains advice from the RCMP and security organizations that, due to the terror attacks of recent months in Canada and internationally, uniformed members and officials exercise diligence regarding personal safety and security.”

MLAs were asked to relay information about their Canada Day plans to the public safety office, which was then forwarded to the RCMP.

“Police agencies will be in attendance or making patrols at various celebrations across P.E.I. and information regarding elected officials participation will be helpful for their planning purposes,” Campbell wrote.

RCMP Sgt. Leanne Butler says this was merely a safety precaution and stressed there was no direct threat to MLAs or their families in P.E.I.

“It’s a new measure because of what happened in Ottawa last year, with no specific threat,” she said, referencing the Parliament Hill shootings last October.

“It was a situational awareness and just a preventative measure for Canada Day celebrations across Canada.”

She added no direct security was provided to the MLAs, police were simply made aware of where they would be throughout the day.

HEATHER TAWEEL/ THE GUARDIAN Premier Wade MacLauchlan walks past the security desk in the P.E.I. legislature Friday. Increased security awareness was implemented to protect all P.E.I. MLAs on Canada Day.