Toronto's Chief of Police Bill Blair says officers in the city will be more visible following the shootings in Ottawa Wednesday morning.
The increased police presence is aimed to reassure people in the city on a "difficult day" for Canada, he said.
"I believe that it is necessary and prudent to put in place enhanced security precautions to ensure the safety of our citizens and of our city," Blair told reporters Wednesday.
Blair stressed, however, that there is no known specific threat in the city -- a message Toronto Deputy Norm Kelly also told reporters Wednesday afternoon at City Hall.
"I want to ensure Torontonians that there is no immediate threat to our city, its people or its institutions."
He said he has requested that the flag at City Hall be flown at half-mast.
"What a few horrible days," Kelly said, referring both to Wednesday’s shooting in Ottawa and the attack on two soldiers in Quebec on Oct. 20.
When asked about security measures for the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 27, Kelly said he was going to consult with the "appropriate authorities."
Meanwhile, institutions across Toronto are beefing up security in response to the shootings in Ottawa on Wednesday morning.
Police Emergency Task Force arrived at Queen's Park shortly after news of the shootings broke.
In addition to the ETF, other police officers were called in to aid security staff as a precaution.
There were suggestions of suspending Wednesday's legislative session, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said, but politicians chose to continue.
"Our belief is that people who are using violence to undermine democracy want us to be silenced. And we refuse to be silenced," Wynne said in a statement.
At Toronto City Hall, Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly confirmed to CTV Toronto that appropriate action had been taken to ensure that the building was secure.
City Hall representative Jackie DeSouza said they've increased security presence, and all staff are being asked to wear their identification badges. City security is asking employees to report any suspicious activity to police.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper was scheduled to meet with Malala Yousafzai, a 17-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman two years ago. Yousafzai was scheduled to attend a government-hosted event at a Toronto school on Wednesday afternoon before meeting with Harper to receive honorary Canadian citizenship.
Harper had left Parliament by the time of the attack in Ottawa, but the events in Toronto have nevertheless been cancelled as a precaution. It is believed that Harper still plans to fly into Toronto.
Toronto Pearson International and Billy Bishop Island Airports issued statements saying they were monitoring the situation and working with Transport Canada, but noted their security protocols remained unchanged so far.
Toronto police have closed the background check desk at their headquarters on College Street as a precaution.
Officials with the TTC said security has been heightened in light of the shooting, and security staff at Union Station are reviewing protocols and working with Toronto police.
Toronto's Canadian Forces College, located at Yonge and Wilson Streets, has closed its gates in response to the shooting. Security has been heightened at the nearby Canadian Forces Base in Trenton as well, and two CF-18 fighter jets were seen flying above the base at noon.
With files from The Canadian Press
