MONTREAL - Some Canadian political leaders were calling for vigorous action against terrorism including continued involvement in military action against Islamic State militants in the wake of Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris that killed at least 129 people.
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said the world was facing a crisis in the wake of acts that "defy imagination" and he warned the democratic world was facing a mortal enemy that "threatens us too, even if we're some distance from Paris."
Couillard, who approved of the former Conservative government's decision to undertake airstrikes in the Middle East in October 2014, called for a strong multilateral response to the crisis when he spoke to reporters in Quebec City on Saturday morning.
When asked directly if he supported a renewed military combat mission, he said it would depend on what the international community asked, although his personal support for military action hadn't changed.
Saskatchewan's premier voiced similar sentiments in a statement where he indicated that all flags at the province's legislature would be flown at half-mast.
"Yesterday's attack was a deadly reminder that there are people in the world who do not share our values and who will stop at nothing in their attempts to impose their twisted, evil ideology through violence, destruction and death," Brad Wall said in the statement.
"They must be defeated. There truly is no other option," said Wall who also indicated he supports Canada continuing to take part in air strikes against militant members of the Islamic State and the Levant.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has indicated he intends to end the combat mission against ISIL and would not say Friday night if the attacks in France would prompt his government to reconsider its position. Canada has contributed fighter jets and is involved in training Iraqi forces to fight the militants.
Trudeau's office said Saturday the Prime Minister was briefed by the RCMP and Canadian Security Intelligence Service officials on the Paris attacks. Trudeau did not speak publicly on the matter, but a senior official in his office, who briefed reporters Saturday night, said that Canada would stick to its plan to end the air mission and refocus its efforts on training ground troops.
Conservative MP Jason Kenney questioned whether Canada would have any credibility if it withdraws from the combat mission.
"We will show "absolute resolve" by being the only country to withdraw from air strikes against the perpetrators?" Kenney questioned on Twitter.
ISIL claimed responsibility for the attacks.
A spokesman for the French Embassy in Ottawa said Saturday morning that police patrols had been increased following the attack.
Stephane Schorderet said the RCMP and local police had already increased security following the Paris attacks in January.
"We feel like we've gone back 10 months in time to the January attacks," he said, a reference to the terrorist acts against satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
He said most of the calls the Embassy had received were messages of solidarity and a desire to commemorate the victims.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said that as of Saturday morning there were no reports of Canadians killed or injured in the series of co-ordinated attacks.
A vigil to remember the dead from Friday's attacks was held in Toronto Saturday and similar events were planned for Montreal and Vancouver for later in the day.
French citizen Jordy Pinel was attending the Montreal rally in honour of his school friend Melodie, who died in Friday night’s attack at a Paris concert hall. Pinel said he learned of the death from another friend, who was able to escape.
“I’m just shattered,” said Pinel, who has lived in Canada for four years. “I feel we aren’t safe anywhere anymore.”
