A jihadist coward mowed down and killed a Canadian soldier.

Another jihadist or wannabe jihadist thug murdered a second Canadian solider in cold blood before storming into the heart of Canada’s democratic life.

Yes, the war has come home.

It seems in both cases we are dealing with disenfranchised, misguided sociopaths suffering from some sort of mental illness.

But at the same time, these two misfits were influenced to some extent to kill in their twisted interpretation of Islam, to turn against their own country with such hatred and loathing.

For those who say these were just two lone wolves acting in isolation, I say you are wrong. There are more out there.

Canada is no haven from the type of extremism that world has come to know.

We have been fortunate so far.

As a participant in the war in Afghanistan and now against ISIS, we have become the enemy in the sick and tortured eyes of people living in the 7th century armed with 21st century weapons and technology.

There have been attacks in London, Madrid, and Mumbai, so it really should be no surprise that Canada is on the list. And do you know why we are?

Because an ISIS leader said we are.

Serious questions must be asked.

How was an armed gunman able to enter the Centre Block of Parliament with such ease?

It somehow seems we were so unprepared in the week after we declared war on the Islamic State.

Why was the murderer who ran over Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent able to move around so freely?

He was under surveillance and was considered a high risk traveller whose passport was revoked.

If he was such a high risk to travel he should also have been considered a high risk to bring terror to our home.

I do believe if the authorities know someone in Canada has declared war on the West then they must be believed.

I believe there are copycats are out there waiting for their chance at martyrdom and the 72 virgins.

 

This week was tragic in so many ways. Good men were lost and our things we hold sacred were shaken but If anything, it strengthened our resolve.

Twenty-four hours after the attack, our government went back to work defiantly.

We have heroes to celebrate

House of Commons sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers bravely risked his own life to bring down the gunman to end the crisis.

In such a typically Canadian way he said he was touched by the attention and then went on to credit his team.

This man is a hero in every possible way; a man who prevented a possible massacre.

We must protect our civil liberties.

We cannot trade our freedoms for anything approaching a police state; we do that and the bad guys win.

But there is a balance to be had in this brave new world .

Right now, I do believe the people who protect us need more powers to deal with an enemy whose likes we have never encountered.

If there are 90 potential domestic jihadists out there and we know who they are, then let’s make sure we know where they are at all times.

Our justice system must be more active in prosecutions for hate crimes.

Churchill once said that “all the great things are simple and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice honour, duty, mercy, hope.”

He could have easily been talking about my Canada, before this terrible week and for certain each and every week after after it.

We stand on guard together, in this true north, strong and free.