Thank you very much.
Good morning.
My name is Chief Superintendent Alphonse MacNeil. Since the fall of 2008, I have been the division operations commander for the G-8 and G-20 integrated security unit. With me today is Alain Séguin. Mr. Séguin is the RCMP's chief financial and administrative officer.
We would like to thank the committee for the opportunity to appear before you to discuss matters surrounding the security budget for the G-8 and G-20 summits.
The RCMP was the lead agency responsible for security for the G-8 and G-20. Guided by a number of acts and regulations, the RCMP was mandated to ensure the safety and security of all internationally protected persons during the summits. Additionally, we had primary responsibility to ensure the security for the proper functioning of the meetings.
Our security planners were faced with numerous challenges. Once we received confirmation that the G-20 would be held on the same weekend as the G-8, we had to drastically change our scope and budget. This was the first time that a G-8 and a G-20 occurred in the same country and at the same time.
The result was the largest domestic deployment of security personnel in Canadian history. More than 20,000 security personnel were required to secure two separate events with two separate footprints--in Huntsville and Toronto. In addition, we were responsible for 24-hour personal protection of 92 internationally protected persons and assisting with delegations in the thousands, securing a site for thousands of media personnel, and clearing them to enter the secure sites, securing sites outside of the restricted zones, and handling air, land, marine, and subterranean security.
As I said, the RCMP and its security partners were responsible for securing a meeting of virtually all senior government leaders from around the world. As you can imagine, gathering that many influential people in one area creates vulnerabilities. It was essential that an appropriate level of security be provided for an event of this magnitude.
Based on a medium threat assessment, the RCMP and its partners created security plans that were scalable to ensure our clients were kept safe and that security was in place for the proper functioning of the meetings. The RCMP security budget for the summits was $507.5 million.
The RCMP worked closely with key public safety and security partners to ensure that the security plans were comprehensive, integrated, and took into account the exceptional needs of hosting two separate major events over the same weekend with such a large number of world leaders and delegates.
The security plans for these two events were derived from a fiscally responsible vulnerability-based planning model. All security costs incurred were spent as per government policies and guidelines and in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.
Where possible, the RCMP entered into joint procurement with other police services for shared assets. In addition, the RCMP used equipment from other major events, like the Olympics, and will be placing back into inventory any assets that we purchased. These assets will be used for future major events. Any equipment with a shorter shelf life is being distributed to areas where it can be used immediately on a cost-recovery basis.
Securing the G-8 and G-20 summits came with a price tag, but at the end of the day, the RCMP and its security partners delivered on our mandate of keeping everyone safe and secure and ensuring the world leaders were able to conduct their meetings. We were faced with incredible challenges and we were successful in meeting all of them.
I remain proud and confident in the role that the RCMP and the ISU played in this successful security operation.
Thank you.