MONTREAL – Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard called the attacks at an airport and metro station in Brussel on Tuesday barbaric.
He stressed that Quebecers stand with the people of Belgium.
“We are united in our desire to defend our values of democracy, tolerance, inclusion and in our desire to fight these barbarians,” he said.
Couillard said he spoke to Belgian authorities and to Quebec’s delegate general in Belgium Tuesday and was relieved to learn there were no Canadians among the victims.
Drummondville mayor Alexandre Cusson and a colleague were headed to the Belgian Federal Parliament for meetings when they heard about the attacks.
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“As we were leaving the hotel, we learned of the attacks at the subway station, which is only a 10 minute walk from the hotel,” he said.
“So, right then we knew all of our meetings were cancelled and all we heard was a concert of sirens over the next few hours.”
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The National Assembly in Quebec City held a minute of silence to remember the victims.
In Montreal, solidarity with Belgium was on full display as the Belgian flag flew atop city hall and other flags were lowered to half-mast.
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre condemned the attacks and offered his condolences.
“We are offering solidarity to the people of Belgium,” he said.
“I wrote to the Brussels mayor, Yvan Mayeur, who is my friend and colleague. No one is safe.”
Coderre said there is no heightened security threat in Montreal, but to reassure commuters, police remained vigilant and were more visible in the metro.
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