Good evening, Mr. Chair, honourable senators and members of Parliament.
My name is Larry Brookson. I am the acting director for the Parliamentary Protective Service, an organization created by Parliament in 2015 as a result of legislative amendments to the Parliament of Canada Act. Our raison d'être is to provide physical security operations for the whole of the parliamentary precinct. Each day our dedicated team of protection officers and dedicated specialists proudly serve and protect parliamentarians, staff and visitors.
To achieve our objectives, we work closely with our partners in Senate corporate security and the House of Commons protective service, as well as with police and intelligence organizations. These relationships are of paramount importance to us.
Since the important work of the joint committee is focused on events and circumstances related to the government's decision to invoke the emergency measures act, I should note that PPS, as a parliamentary entity and a non-government organization, had no role in providing direction or advice to government with respect to its decision to invoke the Emergencies Act.
That said, I hope my comments contribute to the progress of your collective work.
I will be happy to answer any questions regarding the efforts of the Parliamentary Protective Service.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.