Evidence of meeting #13 for Declaration of Emergency in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Yes, I'm sure I can go back. I mean, there was nothing in formal writing that was presented here. A lot of this—
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
No, but there likely would have been emails and assessments, would there not? After it went beyond three days, for instance, I'm sure there would have been a concern when you saw Wellington Street, although adjacent to the precinct, having a direct impact on the work of the Hill.
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Well, it's important to be clear on this one, Mr. Chair. It's that there was never anything that directly implicated the precinct, with the exception of what was happening on Wellington Street.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
That's a pretty large exception.
Would you have received any of the communications that were happening between the National Capital Commission, the City of Ottawa and the Ottawa police as it related to Wellington Street?
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
There was no coordinated effort in the early stages or throughout this process that would have included your protective services working in coordination with law enforcement.
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
No, Mr. Chair, because we're not a law enforcement service. We're not peace officers, so no.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Perhaps, Mr. McDonell, would you have received, in your capacity as Sergeant-at-Arms, any information relating to the ongoing evolving threat that was presented outside the precinct?
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
No. Is that a concern for you, in retrospect? Would it have been enabled your service to provide better security and intelligence within the precinct, given what was identified as an unknown threat in terms of cars parked, incendiary devices or canteens of gasoline walking to and fro?
In your opinion, would it be a recommendation that the precinct and the protective services be involved in these types of potential security threats?
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Mr. Chair, only if there were a direct link to the precinct.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Would you agree that Wellington Street is a direct link to the precinct?
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
If MPs, as you have reported, were being harassed and their transportation to and from work.... I'll share with you myself that I stayed home. That is a prima facie breach of my parliamentary privilege to feel safe on the Hill.
I will put the question through you, Mr. Chair: Is it your responsibility to keep members of Parliament safe on the Hill?
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
So if there are activities surrounding the Hill....
Let me put this question to you another way: Do you believe that we would have a greater opportunity to keep the parliamentary precinct safe if the precinct extended to Wellington Street?
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Would it be your recommendation, in the security recommendations back to Parliament, that the precinct be expanded to include the arteries that would perhaps obstruct the coming and going of parliamentarians to and from the Hill?
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Do you have any other recommendations that you would be willing to share with this committee on safety?
I will start with Mr. McDonell first, and then have Mr. Brookson and Ms. Lacroix if they would like to answer.
Do you have any other high-level recommendations that you would like to put forward to this committee at this moment?
Sergeant-at-Arms and Corporate Security Officer, House of Commons
Other than Wellington Street, which is under study now.... I'm authorized by the Board of Internal Economy to be part of a working group. As I said, it's a study in progress, and our final report has yet to be tabled. There may be some other security recommendations within that report by the time we table it, but I'm not at liberty to speak to it at this time.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Okay.
Would you prefer to have a greater input—at least insight—as to the nature of the threats that surround the precinct, even if it doesn't include the precinct, given the nature of our work?
Sergeant-at-Arms and Corporate Security Officer, House of Commons
Well, Mr. Chair, security, as I said in my opening remarks, is evolving, and we're always proactively addressing it, so yes, there are always improvements to be made, whether it's inside or outside the immediate—