VICTORIA - The clerk of British Columbia's legislature says some provincial politicians were warned this week about "heightened" security concerns in Ottawa in the days leading up to Wednesday's shootings on Parliament Hill and at the National War Memorial.
Craig James declined to offer specifics about the information he and the legislature's sergeant-at-arms received or where it came from. He said there was nothing to indicate B.C.'s legislature was at risk.
"We are aware, and have been aware, of a heightened concern from entities in Ottawa," James told reporters in Victoria.
"We received information that there may be a problem."
James said those concern had existed for "at least a few days." Some members of the legislature were made aware of them, he said.
The sergeant-at-arms, Gary Lenz, said security officials at legislatures across the country routinely share information. He declined to go into detail about any such information that was shared this week.
A reservist who was stationed as an honour guard at the National War Memorial was fatally wounded Wednesday morning. An assailant was shot dead in Parliament's Centre Block, where a security guard was also believed to be wounded.
The shootings placed the capital under lockdown amid fears there could be multiple shooters, and it also prompted increased security measures at legislatures, military bases and other sites across the country.
At the legislature in Victoria, where a Canadian flag was flying at half-mast, security personnel were stationed at every entrance and the building was closed to the public, with the exception of pre-scheduled school tours. The afternoon sitting of the legislature was expected to continue as scheduled.
The legislature was the target of an alleged terror plot in July of last year, when the RCMP announced it had foiled a plan to use pressure cooker bombs to attack the building during Canada Day festivities.
Two people were charged with offences including facilitating terrorist activity, and they are currently scheduled to stand trial early next year. The allegations against them have not been proven.
Premier Christy Clark acknowledged the Ottawa shootings in a post to Twitter.
"B.C. stands with all of Canada against the violence in Ottawa, and with the brave men and women keeping our capital safe," the post said. Clark was expected to address reporters in Victoria on Wednesday afternoon.
Victoria's police chief said the force was working with the Canadian Forces and security officials at the legislature, though he stressed there was no indication of any threats to the provincial capital.
The 19 Wing Comox airbase on Vancouver Island, more than 200 kilometres northwest of Victoria, was among Canadian Forces facilities across the country to increase security measures. A spokeswoman said the base had implemented "additional force protection measures," though she declined to offer specifics.
A public affairs officer at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, west of Victoria, said she wasn't aware of any additional measures in place at the facility.
Vancouver's airport said on Twitter that it had "increased security vigilance" at the facility. A spokesperson said travellers would see additional security inside the airport terminal.
