Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 8th, 2012
Evidence of meeting #36 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was security.
A recording is available from Parliament.
On the agenda
MPs speaking
Also speaking
- Commissioner James Malizia Assistant Commissioner, Protective Policing, Protective Policing Branch, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
11:35 a.m.
NDP
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Edmonton Centre, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Let me add my personal thanks for everything you guys do as a force.
I have just a couple of really quick questions. Just to be really clear, at Westminster, they show cards all the time for entry?
11:35 a.m.
A/Commr James Malizia
It's my understanding that they have to present a card.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
11:35 a.m.
A/Commr James Malizia
I don't recall. It has been a while since I've been there.
May 8th, 2012 / 11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Edmonton Centre, AB
That is my recollection, though it's a little bit apples and oranges because of the threat environment in D.C. versus the one here, but I think on balance we get treated pretty genteely, I would say.
I have just one other quick point. When we have somebody like the President of the United States or the Prime Minister of Israel...obviously I don't want specifics, but suffice it to say that the people they bring with them have a fair bit of influence on the security arrangements. And likewise when the Prime Minister goes somewhere, our folks with him have a fair bit of influence on the security arrangements wherever he is.
11:35 a.m.
A/Commr James Malizia
We'll negotiate those security arrangements to see what's reasonable. When we're receiving foreign security forces, we'll ensure that we have an appropriate number of members overseeing who's present and what's in place, and they integrate with us as well. So we take that responsibility, but it's very structured in the way we go through operational plans, and at the end of the day we have the last say.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Edmonton Centre, AB
I'll just add to Harold Albrecht's point that I'd rather have a little extra security than be faced with the consequences of not having enough.
Thanks so much.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Joe Preston
Great.
We have a cooperative group today. I'm pleasantly surprised.
Mr. Comartin.
11:35 a.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Well, just to get on the record with regard to my colleagues on the other side, this isn't a question of giving up. It's not necessary to give up the historical privileges we've had. It's a question of how it's enforced and how our services are deployed.
Just quickly, with regard to the policy you've enunciated now in terms of what instructions go to your staffing, is that policy reduced to writing?
11:35 a.m.
A/Commr James Malizia
It's in the process of being written. I've put it in the form of an e-mail, but it's in the process of being worked into our standard operating procedures.
11:35 a.m.
NDP
11:35 a.m.
A/Commr James Malizia
No, they're not public.