“It actually had the opposite effect they were hoping for...many civilians told us they preferred seeing any servicemember in uniform, even if unarmed as it at least demonstrated some show of force and not capitulation.”
Yes, I am certain that the Canadian civilians would feel safe under this threat of more terror if soldiers were seen in uniform.
I don’t know about safe...I think it instilled confidence in the populace that we weren’t afraid to go about our day “hiding” as civilians.
I don’t know of anyone I served with at the time who thought it was a “good” order...