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.
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Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
For 90 minutes, from my partners.
What I have full control over are the 421 protection officers I'm responsible for.
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NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Thank you. That concludes my round.
We will now go on to.... I thought it was safe, by the way, Mr. Fortin, when you gave me the....
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Bloc
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NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
I was safe to stop talking. Okay, I appreciate that.
We'll now go to Senator Boniface. Senator Boniface, you have five minutes. The floor is yours.
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Senator, Ontario, CSG
Thank you very much. I'll try to ask some rapid questions here.
Just so we're clear, Superintendent Brookson, the Emergencies Act provided the PPS with no new powers.
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Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Through you, Mr. Chair, that is correct.
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Senator, Ontario, CSG
At any time, are PPS members provided special constable powers under section 7 of the RCMP Act?
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Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Through you, Mr. Chair, no.
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Senator, Ontario, CSG
Was it considered in this case that possibly, because of the incident and the invocation, the RCMP should provide section 7 powers to PPS officers?
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Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Through you, Mr. Chair, no.
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Senator, Ontario, CSG
Would it assist PPS if it had more powers to perform some of its duties, such as arrest, beyond the powers it has now? If so, what would that look like?
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Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Through you, Mr. Chair, for the current operational requirement for the service, we're well suited within our civil authority under the Criminal Code.
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Senator, Ontario, CSG
Thank you very much, Superintendent.
Would it change if you were to take over Wellington Street and you had an expanded precinct? Do you believe it would be necessary to gain a different level of powers or more powers to maintain peace in that area?
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Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Through you, Mr. Chair, no, Senator White.
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Senator, Ontario, CSG
As a last question, my understanding is that there are reports that had been prepared in relation to closing Wellington Street well before the convoy at certain entry points onto the Hill, and even reports on a response to post-blast impact. Are those reports in the possession of PPS and/or Madam Lacroix?
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Director, Corporate Security, Senate
Any of the threat risk assessments and reports we work on are a coordinated effort among the three security partners.
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Senator, Ontario, CSG
Would it be possible that we could have those shared with the committee, please?
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Senator, Ontario, CSG
Thank you very much.
I think I have a couple of minutes left. I'll share them with my friend.
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Senator, Ontario, PSG
Thanks very much, Senator White. On behalf of the committee, I think we'll miss your questioning.
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Senator, Ontario, PSG
I'm not sure the witnesses will.
I'd like to follow up on Mr. Brookson's description of his enhanced staffing on the Hill. You said 30%. Was that deploying your full capacity of 421 officers?
