Victoria police chief Frank Elsner said extra officers have been sent to secure the B.C. legislature building this morning after a gunman’s attack at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
The legislature is under restricted access; the public cannot enter the building but scheduled tours will still take place.
"There is a heightened awareness of the matter until we have a better understanding of what's happened in Ottawa," said Craig James, clerk of the B.C. legislature.
"I think people are anxious."
He said a note is being sent out to all legislature staff to inform them of the extra precautions being taken.
Elsner said there is no immediate threat in Victoria, but police want to make sure people feel safe.
"We have a heightened level of visible presence here now," Elsner said.
There was no change to access to Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, though military police officers were added to those parts of the base, such as Dockyard, that are normally off-limits to visitors.
Most constituency offices of MPs on Vancouver Island and across the country have closed as a security precaution.
Bruce Fogg, constituency assistant for Esquimalt-Juan De Fuca NDP MP Randall Garrison, said the Garrison’s office did not open this morning.
May’s office is open but secured, said Jonathan Dickie, constituency assistant.
“We've opened at our regular time, but are taking extra precautions,” Dickie said.
“We're shocked by the incidents in Ottawa this morning and sad to hear of the death of the soldier at the memorial,” Dickie said. “We are relieved that our parliament hill colleagues are all safe.”
Flights are continuing on schedule at the Victoria International Airport, media contact James Bogusz said.
“As with any security measure, we keep our ear to the ground. If the government provides us with any information, we of course would follow it to the letter. But at this point, it’s business as usual at YYJ,” Bogusz said.
- With files from Jack Knox and Amy Smart
