Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My name is Patrick McDonell, and I am the Sergeant‑at‑Arms for the House of Commons.
I hope the committee understands that I'll be careful speaking openly about sensitive security matters. Security matters, when discussed before the Board of Internal Economy, are legislatively mandated under the Parliament of Canada Act to be discussed in camera. Some information, if made public, could increase the vulnerability of the House of Commons security posture, the parliamentary buildings, parliamentarians and other persons within the parliamentary precinct.
As head of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms and Corporate Security, my team works in close collaboration with its partners to provide a secure environment for members of Parliament, employees and visitors on the Hill. Working with the Parliamentary Protective Service and the Senate corporate security directorate, we adapt our practices proactively and continuously while also responding to evolving security risks. We collaborate closely with our partners both on and off the Hill for a coordinated security approach.
I will reiterate: our primary emphasis has been to ensure the security of parliamentarians. We understand that prevention and early intervention make it possible to diminish the escalation of threats and harm.
As I mentioned, I am pleased to appear before you. However, I hope the committee can understand that I am limited in what I can say given this public format.
Thank you very much.