NDP MP Don Davies regrets Twitter misfire after bomb threat at Parliament Hill
A brief threat at Ottawa's Parliament Hill ended without incident on Wednesday after a suspect with a suspicious package was arrested shortly before parliament was to resume with the readsing of the Throne Speech.
CBC News reports that RCMP officers evacuated the Langenin Block, which houses the offices of the Privy Council and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
It was a tense moment of drama amid a day expected to be filled with political gamesmanship and, unfortunately, one NDP MP launched a misdirected attack on Twitter.
Don Davis wrote, and later deleted, suggesting the man with a suspicious package was Harper with a speech "claiming to support consumers."
RT @DonDavies: Reports of suspicious man and package in PMO office - that's Harper and a speech claiming to support consumers! #cdnpoli...
— Laura Payton (@laura_payton) October 16, 2013
Davis later expressed relief that the situation came to a safe conclusion and issued a mea culpa.
Glad person apprehended and everyone's safe - didn't mean to make light of safety issue — Don Davies (@DonDavies) October 16, 2013
As is often the case with Twitter misfire, the reaction was unkind toward Davis.
Bomb threats are *always* the best time to lay down a good zinger! Thanks @DonDavies #cdnpoli
— Dave A. (@davit001) October 16, 2013
Wow, @DonDavies, as a rep of Canadians you should think twice before mocking bomb threats for political gain. #Shame on you. #NDP #cdnpoli — Kaisha Thompson (@kaishathompson) October 16, 2013
Poor judgement MT @DonDavies Reports of suspicious man and package in PMO office - that's Harper and a speech claiming to support consumers!
— Kevin Lacey (@kevinlaceyCTF) October 16, 2013
Be it resolved @DonDavies had the worst tweet in Canadian politics today. — Brian Lilley (@brianlilley) October 16, 2013