Evidence of meeting #91 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was security.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Administration and Personnel Officer, Parliamentary Protective Service
We currently have 46 operational vacancies, which is a reduction from last year. We also have a training course and plans to fill those in the coming months.
Liberal
Liberal
C/Supt Jane MacLatchy
No, it's constant right now. However, as I mentioned to this committee during my last appearance here, we are looking at possibilities to reduce that footprint. There has been some interest already for this potential. It's still a conceptual piece. However, I would suggest that in the short term what you will see while we're waiting for the LTVP and the move from Centre Block is no change.
In the longer term, we are considering a reduction, potentially, of RCMP who are doing protective functions such as the static posts externally and replacing them with front-line PPS personnel. That is the long-term goal at this point: to start phase one of that reduction by exchanging RCMP and moving...so the marked RCMP vehicles will no longer be on post and you'll see a PPS presence instead.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Okay. I appreciate that.
I have one final question for PPS before I move to on further topics. With respect to privilege in the chamber, if the Sergeant-at-Arms issues an order to lock the doors and PPS operations says “don't lock the doors”, which order will be followed?
C/Supt Jane MacLatchy
That's an interesting question.
It depends on the situation. If PPS determines that there is a serious threat to security of having those....
I'm not sure I understand the question entirely.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
I'm just trying to figure out lines of authority because inside the chamber the Sergeant-at-Arms is king, under the direction of the Speaker.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
If the Sergeant-at-Arms indicates to the officers in the galleries to lock the doors, and operations says to do a somewhat different activity, will the Sergeant-at-Arms take precedence in what is inside the chamber?
C/Supt Jane MacLatchy
That's a good question. It's not been discussed at my level, l but I can certainly have the discussion with my operations officer. I don't see that there would be a conflict. If there is something going on, generally our response would be to lock those doors. Unless there is some reason that we need to evacuate and we need to evacuate right now, I would not expect to ever see a countermanding of the Sergeant-at-Arms' direction.
That being said, the Sergeant-at-Arms might not have the information of what's happening outside the chamber, in which case—
C/Supt Jane MacLatchy
All that being said, it's an interesting hypothetical, but unless there is a serious threat to life and limb, I see no reason why we would countermand the need to lock those doors.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Fair enough. Thank you.
Moving on to the West Block, I'm particularly interested in this. It's a great point of pride in my riding that all the windows in the West Block, except in the roof, were made in my riding, in my hometown of Sainte-Agathe. I just want to put that on the record.
Are we on track to move into West Block this year?
Michel Patrice Deputy Clerk, Administration
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The project is underway. We're putting all our resources and Public Works and Procurement Services are working collaboratively to put all the required resources with the hope that we're going to be transitioning into the west block in the fall of 2018, as planned.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
So my follow-up question is, does it make sense to move in the fall of 2018 and then having one final short sitting before the election, or would it make more sense to do it in 2019 when there are quite a few more months to do it, and we wouldn't have to move a second time afterwards?
Deputy Clerk, Administration
Let's just say that if we are able to achieve the fall, 2018 it would be good for Parliament and the parliamentary precinct building because we have the centre block to also get into working shape and modernized.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
I think I mentioned when I last appeared here the mild concern I have about the condition of centre block, the fact that we have ancient—and maybe ancient is the wrong word—but certainly old water pipes, wiring, etc., and I am anxious to get that work underway for the preservation of that important building, and not to have our work interrupted or moved somewhere else before west block is ready, because of a leak, for example, something I mentioned last time.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Public works once said it could be kept until 2017, so thank you for that.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
In fact at some point, the Board of Internal Economy will have to make the “go no” decision probably over the next couple of months.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Thank you, Mr. Graham.
Mr. Speaker, can you speak as quickly as Mr. Graham when you answer Blake's question so he can get as many questions in as possible?
Mr. Richards.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
How did you know I had so many questions, Mr. Chair. It sounds like you've read my mind.
My questions might be best directed to Mr. Robert, but I'll let you decide that for yourself.
There has been some talk that there has been a senior officer in the Privy Council Office, which is obviously the department that supports the Prime Minister and the government House leader, who has been seconded to the House administration for the purposes of working on a rewrite of the standing orders.
I wonder if you can confirm for me that there is a PCO employee working there with that assignment currently.
Charles Robert Clerk of the House of Commons
Yes, it's true. The individual has been brought over. I don't know what rank he holds within the Privy Council Office, but he is a Privy Council Office employee.
He was brought over initially as part of an exchange between Procedural Services and PCO. That was modified to be just PCO, at their request, and he was brought over, as you point out, to work on a possible revision of the Standing Orders.