Evidence of meeting #7 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 rcmp.
A video is available from Parliament.
D/Commr Michael Duheme
It's a good question, Senator White.
We were in constant discussion with OPP as well as with OPS. We came to a point where we thought it would be good if we got together and planned this. Initially, as I mentioned, prior to that date there were ongoing discussions with OPS and OPP. We were always in the picture, but it was an OPS lead until.... It had always been an OPS lead. It just solidified.
Senator, Ontario, C
Was it because there was a change in leadership at the OPS?
Senator, Ontario, C
No, I'm asking you; I'm not assuming it either, actually. Do you believe that that had an impact on solidifying the command and allowing the RCMP and OPP to gain greater access to the command structure?
D/Commr Michael Duheme
I'm not sure if it was the timing that we were at that point, or if it were Mr. Sloly's stepping down. I'm not quite sure.
Commr Brenda Lucki
They were requesting additional resources and because we had to draw from outside the geographical area, we needed to see a solid plan going forward to make sure that we were providing the right resources. That's when the ICC was formed to go through and have the planning cell create the plan, and have the integrated command centre review it.
Senator, Ontario, C
Thank you very much for that, Commissioner.
Deputy Duheme, I have one last question. Have you ever used or been involved in the use of aid to civil power?
Senator, Ontario, C
Had you had any discussions about the need for it in relation to the occupation in downtown Ottawa?
Senator, Ontario, C
From your perspective, there wasn't a need to use aid to civil power, which would have given you more tools.
Senator, Ontario, C
Thank you very much, deputy commissioner. I appreciate your answers.
I'm finished, Madam Chair.
The Joint Chair Hon. Gwen Boniface
Thank you very much.
That completes our questions.
I want to express our sincere appreciation to the witnesses for joining us this evening and answering questions to the best of your ability. We wish you a good evening. Thank you again.
Committee members, I'll ask you to just hang tight. It's my understanding that next week we had planned to have a business meeting.
Liberal
Yasir Naqvi Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Madam Chair, I want to discuss the plan for next week. I think we were discussing getting Minister Blair and having him present and also discussing committee business.
Minister Blair is available the first hour and a half of our committee meeting. I was going to suggest that we have him for the first hour and a half, and during the later hour and a half, we could discuss committee business.
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
I have a point of order, Madam Chair.
That is not what was decided last week. We instead agreed to hear from witnesses this week and deal with pending motions next week. You will remember that I stressed that point.
Someone had proposed that we hear from witnesses for half of the meeting, and I was opposed to that. That is what we voted on.
The entire meeting next week will therefore be spent on pending motions and other routine business. We will not be hearing from witnesses. Otherwise, we will not have enough time for the business, including emergency motions.
Next week, I would also like us to discuss the objections presented by witnesses, which are far from being in bad faith. We repeatedly receive objections concerning the production of documents and portions of comments. The committee must therefore decide on those issues one way or another. Those housekeeping issues must be resolved before hearing from more witnesses.
That is what was decided last week. With respect, Madam Chair, I insist that we uphold that decision. If we had not agreed to devote the meeting next week to pending motions, my vote would have been different for today's meeting.
Senator, Ontario, C
My memory is not as good as Mr. Fortin's. Can you advise us what we did agree to for next week?
The Joint Clerk of the Committee Mr. Mark Palmer
The motion was to have three hours of meetings today and to have committee business the following meeting—