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.
7:35 p.m.
Sergeant-at-Arms and Corporate Security Officer, House of Commons
After January 6.... Are you referring to the United States?
7:35 p.m.
Sergeant-at-Arms and Corporate Security Officer, House of Commons
That would be Larry's area.
7:35 p.m.
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Yes, we took steps. Again, I think I mentioned earlier the importance of the tabletop—the TT exercise and framework—that the services put in place. That same January, we commenced tabletop exercises with our partners, which was inclusive of the Ottawa Police Service.
7:40 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Okay.
When the weapons were found in Coutts, you have referenced not knowing what was in the trucks. What precautions did you take to improve the safety and security of the precinct at that time? Did you elevate the threat when you heard that there was a connection with weapons in Coutts, or did you do nothing?
7:40 p.m.
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
The elevation was already there.
7:40 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
It was already.
If you were to range the different levels of elevation—I don't know if you use colours or codes or whatever—at what level...?
7:40 p.m.
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
It takes me back to my ERT training, Mr. Chair: We say “always add one to it”. The establishment of what happened at Coutts was exactly what my thoughts were right on Wellington Street.
7:40 p.m.
NDP
7:40 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Did you receive any reports related to ideologically motivated violent extremists and the potential for lone wolf actors?
7:40 p.m.
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
The open-source intelligence at the service does that. There's always a review of the actors that are involved and what their backgrounds and potential ideas are.
7:40 p.m.
NDP
7:40 p.m.
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
It would have been up there for me.
7:40 p.m.
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
It would have been a heightened security concern. If those types of individuals are walking down Wellington Street on a regular basis throughout that period and I have parliamentarians who are coming to work with their staff, it's a huge concern for me.
7:40 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Would you have reason to believe that there was that element within the crowd—not to say the entire crowd, but within that crowd—and that there could have been that element?
September 29th, 2022 / 7:40 p.m.
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Absolutely.
7:40 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Given that and hearing the testimony, is it possible that, during the police movements to disperse, there could have been a scenario where the precinct was breached? Or, in your opinion, do you feel that your service was adequately prepared to withstand the thousands of people that were out in front of Parliament?
7:40 p.m.
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Through you, Mr. Chair, the increased fencing that was put down, the Wellington fence, was in preparation and readiness for the police, the tactical operation.
7:40 p.m.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
I am out of time, unfortunately. We will continue through.
Thank you for that, Mr. Brookson.
We will now go on to Monsieur Carignan for three minutes, sir.
7:40 p.m.
Senator, Quebec (Mille Isles), C
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Brookson, earlier you mentioned that you had tried to reach the Mayor of Ottawa, Mr. Watson.
Can you tell us when you did that and why?
7:40 p.m.
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Through you, Mr. Chair, I don't recall the specific date, but the call I requested to have with him was in response to the opening back up of Wellington Street and escorting the trucks back up onto Wellington.
7:40 p.m.
Senator, Quebec (Mille Isles), C
I see.
Am I to understand that you were dissatisfied with the services provided by the Ottawa police and wanted to increase the level of pressure? I used to be a mayor, in another life; usually when people came to me it was because they were not satisfied with the services.
Was it because you were dissatisfied with police services, in particular, that you contacted Mayor Watson?