PM Harper cancels Malala Yousafzai citizenship ceremony in light of Ottawa shooting

[brooklynite]

Source: Ottawa Star

TORONTO – Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office says two scheduled events today in Toronto with Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai have been cancelled.

The last-minute announcement comes amid an ongoing emergency in Ottawa, where several shootings have occurred on or near Parliament Hill.

Harper was to moderate an afternoon question-and-answer session with Yousafzai at a Toronto high school.

He was then scheduled to head to a downtown hotel, where the 17-year-old from Pakistan was to receive honorary Canadian citizenship.

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Harper+cancels+Malala+Yousafzai+citizenship+ceremony+light+Ottawa/10314714/story.html

[The Magistrate]

1. Interesting, Sir

Could be part of the why today was chosen for the action.

[get the red out]

5. I hadn't thought of that!

I just figured she would likely be in danger with the attacks that have gone on. But what you brought up is something to think about.

[dbackjon]

10. I had the same thought

[brooklynite]

2. If so, wouldn't you expect it to occur in Toronto?

[Shemp Howard]

3. That was probably a mistake.

If this was a terrorist attack (and all signs certainly point to that), cancelling the ceremony gives the terrorists a victory of sorts. It is even possible that the timing of the attack had something to do with honoring Ms. Yousafzai.

IMHO, the ceremony should have gone on, in a very secure location different from the one originally chosen.

[KittyWampus]

4. a lot of preparation goes into making any location secure. They'd have no way to do it.

[Peacetrain]

6. You are right...

[get the red out]

7. If this is a terrorist attack

Making sure she stays alive is a defeat for the possible terrorists.

[OnlinePoker]

9. The Prime Minister won't leave the city until the situation is resolved

I expect it to be rescheduled for a day or two from now.

[JI7]

11. no, security concerns matter first, and they will just move it to another date

it's not like they are taking back the honor because of the attacks.

[RufusTFirefly]

8. The Leafs-Sens (hockey) game has also been postponed

"The National Hockey League wishes to express its sympathy to all affected by the tragic events that took place this morning in downtown Ottawa."

Maple Leafs at Senators game postponed

[Ampersand Unicode]

12. Is honorary citizenship technically "citizenship"?

In other words, if Malala decides to stay in Canada, will she be entitled to all the perks of Canadian citizenship...

...like the great SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE?

Also, do they know the identity of the shooter(s) and/or has it been revealed yet?