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.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Are you aware that, over the course of the fall, an internal counterterrorism report revealed that at least four federal cabinet ministers were subject to specific violent, extremist threats in the lead-up to the Ottawa convoy occupation in January? Were you aware of that?
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Through you, Mr. Chair, I'm not alive to any of the specifics of those incidents, no.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
If there is a specific threat to the Prime Minister and four cabinet ministers, Mr. McDonell, are you apprised of these threats?
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Were you aware at that time that the internal reports of counterterrorism had identified the Prime Minister and four cabinet ministers as being subject to ideologically motivated violent extremist threats?
Sergeant-at-Arms and Corporate Security Officer, House of Commons
I don't recall specifically, but it's likely that I had conversations with contacts in the security community about the security of certain ministers prior to, during and post convoy.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Help me to clarify that. Were you made aware or weren't you made aware that the Prime Minister and four cabinet ministers received specific threats related to the anti-government sentiment within this crowd through open-source observation as well as the calls for political violence against the government? Are you aware of those threats? Yes or no, sir.
September 29th, 2022 / 8:10 p.m.
Sergeant-at-Arms and Corporate Security Officer, House of Commons
I would say yes. I can't definitely say which four ministers. If I said yes, and you asked me which four ministers—
Sergeant-at-Arms and Corporate Security Officer, House of Commons
I would say yes, because I have those conversations on a regular basis.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Given this increased, direct threat, anti-government sentiment, calls for political violence as being justified, and knowing what happened on January 6, what steps would you have taken in addition to anything that you had already been proceeding on related to the occupation and specific to ideologically motivated violent extremists? What additional steps and measures would you have taken to ensure the safety and security of the Prime Minister and those members of cabinet?
Sergeant-at-Arms and Corporate Security Officer, House of Commons
That falls under the responsibility of the RCMP protective operations.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Is there any coordinated effort between the RCMP on those efforts and your...?
Sergeant-at-Arms and Corporate Security Officer, House of Commons
It would be discussed. Maybe the movements of the ministers on and off the precinct would be discussed at a certain time.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Would there have been any direction from you to the Speaker or from the Speaker to you regarding this?
Sergeant-at-Arms and Corporate Security Officer, House of Commons
No. I would apprise the Speaker, if necessary, if we were doing anything differently on the precinct as a result of the RCMP's providing them protection.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Brookson, given your past experience and assessment, would your assessment of the security of parliamentarians, staff and your members include having a knowledge of the staffing levels of police? You mentioned 135 guns at any given time and 30% additional capacity. We can do the math on that; it's 150 folks or so. Would you also have knowledge of how many police officers were present in Ottawa, on Wellington Street, directly in front of the precinct?
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Through you, Mr. Chair, no.
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Not the exact numbers, no.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Given your own internal threat assessments on the security of the precinct, would it not make sense that you would have at least some kind of insight and understanding about the capacity of the Ottawa police in front of Parliament on Wellington Street?
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Through you, Mr. Chair, I was alive to the increased numbers that were being brought in to a certain degree, but their daily posture was not something I was informed of.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Would that information have helped you at all in making assessments on whether or not you had the appropriate staffing on the precinct to protect against the possibility of a surge and a breaching of Parliament?
Acting Director, Parliamentary Protective Service
Through you, Mr. Chair, my responsibility is to ensure that the service can act on its own, although I rely heavily on, and I appreciate, the support that I get—