Evidence of meeting #43 for Public Safety and National Security in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was provincial.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:25 p.m.
Liberal
Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON
Thank you.
One of the things that's come out today is that the municipal program in Toronto nearly has...and I don't know if you'd call it a directive or a supervisory...but the Attorney General of Ontario is involved in the program. Is that a correct statement?
12:25 p.m.
A/Commr Mike McDonell
Absolutely.
12:25 p.m.
Liberal
Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON
As contrasted to the RCMP program, which has no involvement of an attorney general for Canada.... It's always in the circle of the RCMP, with no outside oversight at all.
12:25 p.m.
A/Commr Mike McDonell
Except for the report.
12:25 p.m.
Liberal
Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON
Yes, well, that's in information. That's not an oversight, and that's nothing in any way comparable to what's happening in Ontario.
I want to talk to you now about minors, because I was thinking of your situation with gun witnesses or gang witnesses in Toronto. You could often be a minor being a witness. Do you involve minors in your witness protection program?
12:25 p.m.
S/Insp Steve Izzett
That is a good question, and I don't have the answer to that.
12:25 p.m.
S/Insp Steve Izzett
I have not reviewed or dealt with any paperwork associated with a minor into the program.
12:25 p.m.
Liberal
Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON
I can foresee that in a gang situation.
How about Winnipeg? Do we have information there?
12:25 p.m.
A/Commr Mike McDonell
I know we considered it some years ago. I'm not certain if that individual actually entered into the program or not. Other than the one particular circumstance that we considered, I'm not sure if we have any.
12:25 p.m.
A/Commr Mike McDonell
I'll take that on notice. I can't answer that question.
12:25 p.m.
A/Commr Mike McDonell
Yes.
12:25 p.m.
Liberal
Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON
Would you also answer the question of whether or not there are witnesses in the witness protection program for the assistance of terrorism cases in Canada currently?
12:25 p.m.
A/Commr Mike McDonell
I will not answer that question, as per section 11.
12:25 p.m.
Liberal
Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON
Okay, thank you.
You mentioned in your opening remarks about the second stage of the RCMP report.... Never mind. I'll pass on that right now.
12:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz
We'll go over to the government side. Mr. MacKenzie, please.
May 8th, 2007 / 12:25 p.m.
Conservative
Dave MacKenzie Conservative Oxford, ON
Thanks, Chair.
And thank you to the members.
Assistant Commissioner, could you just clarify one little thing? There are 700 in RCMP control and you monitor 300.
12:25 p.m.
A/Commr Mike McDonell
There are 700 that originated from RCMP investigations and then 300 where we're providing aid to other police agencies.
12:25 p.m.
Conservative
Dave MacKenzie Conservative Oxford, ON
Okay, so the cost of the 700 will be borne federally and the 300 are billed back to other agencies. Is that correct?
12:25 p.m.
A/Commr Mike McDonell
That's correct.
12:25 p.m.
Conservative
Dave MacKenzie Conservative Oxford, ON
Okay.
I think Mr. Cullen mentioned a variety of things about which he had talked with Chief Blair. Typically, Crime Stoppers callers are not people who initially wish to be witnesses. Is that a fair assessment? The reason they call is because of the anonymity.