Evidence of meeting #35 for Public Safety and National Security in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was elcock.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
I can tell you that I was the minister in January of this year.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Andrew Kania Liberal Brampton West, ON
Fine. On behalf of the government, since you represent the government, can you tell us, do you remember what the reason is that the government decided to follow whatever the recommendations were to split the summits between Huntsville and Toronto?
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
Yes, I can advise you that we followed Mr. Elcock's advice. He can provide you with those answers. I don't have those here before me today.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Andrew Kania Liberal Brampton West, ON
Okay, that's fine. So as we sit here today, you actually personally cannot answer the question as to why the government made the decision to split the summits between Huntsville and Toronto.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
I can advise you that they appeared to be the most reasonable and compelling arguments that we heard.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Andrew Kania Liberal Brampton West, ON
Why do you say that? What's the specific recommendation or recommendations that you can tell us the government received, as you can recall today, that led you to the conclusion that it was the most reasonable course of action?
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Mr. Kania, just on that point, Mr. Elcock is here. Minister Toews has already suggested that we could hear from Mr. Elcock if you're willing to listen to the special advisor answer that question.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
I'll defer to Mr. Elcock in terms of providing those reasons. I believe he has them. He's prepared to provide those for you.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
All I can say is this. I don't recall disagreeing with Mr. Elcock in respect of any of the recommendations he made in respect of location, insofar as I was involved in any of those decisions.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Andrew Kania Liberal Brampton West, ON
There's a second one. We have the splitting of the summits; we also have the CNE.
I understand, Minister, there was a recommendation that the summit be held for the Toronto portion at the CNE as opposed to downtown Toronto, and it would have been less expensive and it would have had less impact upon the city of Toronto.
I'm going to ask you one question more, but I'd also like to know why that did not happen, and I'm going to ask you to provide copies of all documentation that you say you as a government relied upon to make all of these decisions. You keep relying upon the experts. We should be able to read what the experts said.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Vic Toews Conservative Provencher, MB
All I can say is that I do not recall Mr. Elcock making that recommendation. Alternative locations were discussed, and no recommendation was made in respect of proceeding in those alternative locations. The locations that were recommended were in fact the ones the government ultimately accepted.
There were various arguments--and I do recall this--made about various locations. The experts advised us for a number of reasons--and in quite a lengthy briefing--about why this would be the most appropriate location. That's all I can tell you.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you, Mr. Minister.
We'll go back to Mr. MacKenzie. We're a minute over already--one minute and 10 seconds.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Just one moment.
Mr. Kania, on a point of order.
I hope it's a point of order, Mr. Kania.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Andrew Kania Liberal Brampton West, ON
The minister didn't answer the second part. I asked about the production of all relevant documentation.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
We're a minute and a half over, and that's perhaps why he didn't answer the question. We'll get those....
Mr. MacKenzie.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Dave MacKenzie Conservative Oxford, ON
Thank you, Chair.
I listened to my friend trying to find out why somebody would do something. I have a press release from the Liberal Party of Canada that says, “The Liberal Party of Canada is calling for answers after receiving information that the Harper government spent $27.5 million of taxpayer money on a temporary police command centre for last summer’s 72-hour G8/G20 summits.” This was talking about the summit at Bracebridge. In another place I'd like to have the person who did this come and tell us where they came up with those numbers.
Chief Superintendent, I think I did read something in which you had clarified some of those costs associated with the command centre. In fact, this is nowhere near the actual cost.