Some special constables at Queen's Park will be armed with guns beginning early next year, CTV Toronto has learned.
The move follows last year's deadly shooting rampage on Parliament Hill and the recent terror attacks in Paris. Speaker Dave Levac said these events have heightened their awareness of shifting security concerns.
"I think people are beginning to understand that the freedoms that we have cost something and this is vigilance," Levac told CTV Toronto on Sunday.
Levac said some constables have completed firearms training and beginning next year, handguns will be part of a new security approach.
"It's called a response unit – an armed response unit and the members trained are from our security services here in the legislature," Levac said.
Levac said tour guides will also be trained to respond if shots are fired inside Queen’s Park.
"(It's) not just security staff but even tour guides will be given training on how to respond," he explained.
Recently, guards were also issued wands that act as portable metal detectors at entrances.
Levac said an all-party safety committee, which was created to re-examine security protocols after a gunman stormed Parliament Hill last year, will also meet in the coming weeks. He said they will discuss rolling out the sweeping security changes.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Paul Bliss
