The Ontario Provincial Police is directing their officers to wear their full uniforms, and to carry their service guns and wear protective vests if they are attending Remembrance Day ceremonies during off-duty hours.
The directive comes following two separate fatal attacks on Canadian soldiers. Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, 58, and Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24, were killed by suspects who had both separately tried to travel to the Middle East.
"The safety of our officers and our community is always the No. 1 priority and we want to make sure that this Remembrance Day, like any other Remembrance Day, we are in solemn observance of thanking and remember our veterans," Ontario's Minister of Community Safety Yasir Naqvi told CTV Toronto on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, off-duty officers in Toronto will not be wearing their uniforms or carrying their service weapons on Nov. 11. Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair says that in the "absence of a specific threat," he does not believe off-duty officers need to be carrying their guns when out of uniform.
"I'm not prepared to authorize the carrying of firearms for all off-duty officers. I don't believe it’s necessary,” he said.
President of the Toronto Police Association Mike McCormack, however, does not agree with the decision. He says "there has been a change in the world order," and officers should be able to carry their service firearms when they are off the clock.
"These terrorist organizations are targeting our members, (they) are targeting police officers and saying 'do harm to them, or murder them, or kill them,'" he said.
Earlier this September, ISIS released a 42-minute propaganda audio recording, during which followers are urged to kill Canadians, Americans, and any other citizens of countries taking part in the U.S.-led coalition to fight the group.
In an English translation of the recording, ISIS followers are encouraged to kill any "disbelievers," whether they are civilians or part of the military.
With a report from CTV Toronto’s Austin Delaney
