Public Safety committee  Even if a new service is created—the parliamentary protective service—we can have an organizational structure and keep the operational structures as they are. That is what we suggest and encourage. Different cultures are involved. The Senate has its own culture, as does the House of Commons.

Public Safety committee  I cannot confirm this 100%, but what we've been hearing on the floor right now is that the new Sergeant-at-Arms will have more of a ceremonial role than the operational role he used to have.

Public Safety committee  I am not an expert on parliamentary structure, and I am not familiar with all the levels. For example, to avoid mixing legislative and executive powers, consideration may have been given to appointing a director of the new service who is not an active member of the RCMP. Actually, a retired member or a member of another department could have been appointed to head the service.

Public Safety committee  I think that the role of the sergeant-at-arms will have to change tremendously. According to what I have been told, the role of the sergeant-at-arms will become mainly ceremonial rather than operational. Naturally, I cannot back that up 100%, but that is what I understood.

Public Safety committee  I am not aware of the OPP and the Ontario legislative.... Do they have separate security forces? Has the OPP...? I have no idea.

Public Safety committee  As far as I know and according to what we have been told, the employer must respect the collective agreement until it expires.

Public Safety committee  In 2017.

Public Safety committee  Both Speakers put forward a motion in the House to guarantee the jobs after the creation of the new parliamentary protective service. We see a problem with the fact that the bill does not use the exact same wording. That leaves room for some doubt as to whether the potential future organization of operations could have an impact on employment.

Public Safety committee  We are getting there quickly.

Public Safety committee  Once again, it's hard to say. It all depends on what organizational structure will be implemented. We shouldn't forget about the Senate, either. Senate Protective Service employees have a collective agreement that differs slightly from ours. We have one, the RCMP doesn't have one, and its working conditions are a bit different from ours.

Public Safety committee  Yes, we have two collective agreements and two different expiration dates.

Public Safety committee  Our biggest concern is not the current employment of our members but their future continued employment. At the present time we have no idea about the restructuring on the operational side of the bill. Restructuring the service could lead to possible cuts or possible restructuring of our members.

Public Safety committee  No we are not opposed that, but we are opposed to its being an active member of the RCMP.

Public Safety committee  For us it's clear that we're mixing the executive and the legislative part of the work, or the.... Our association feels that the executive part of our work should not be mixed with the legislative part just for the sake of maintaining parliamentary privileges. RCMP members, especially under the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, have an obligation to report only and exclusively to an RCMP member.

Public Safety committee  No, I'm not.