Evidence of meeting #22 for Procedure and House Affairs 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.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bardish Chagger
Thank you so much. I just want to note it, and it's appreciated.
We will now enter into six-minute rounds. We will start it with Mr. Scheer, followed by Mr. Naqvi, Madame Gaudreau and then Ms. Blaney.
Mr. Scheer, six minutes go to you, through the chair.
Regina—Qu'Appelle, CPC
Thank you, Madam Chair. I will be splitting my time with Ms. Block, if that's all right with everyone.
I have a series of very short yes-or-no questions to Minister Mendicino, through you, Madam Chair.
Did the Ottawa Police Service request the federal government to invoke the Emergencies Act?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
We had consultations with law enforcement involving a number of very prescribed powers under the Emergencies Act prior to its invocation.
Regina—Qu'Appelle, CPC
Is that a yes or a no? Did the Ottawa Police Service request that the Emergencies Act be invoked?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Mr. Scheer, there was a very strong consensus among law enforcement that the Emergencies Act was necessary, as stipulated in the letter from the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police who said that “unprecedented” acts of civil disobedience preceded the invocation of the Emergencies Act.
Regina—Qu'Appelle, CPC
Which police service during the protest made the request?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Mr. Scheer, as I've said on a number of occasions now, we had robust exchanges with law enforcement—including the RCMP—including on the very prescribed measures under the Emergencies Act, which were used responsibly to restore public safety.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bardish Chagger
I am pausing the time, because we love how the PROC committee functions, and we function at the procedure and House affairs committee through the chair. I would appreciate that all comments and responses be made through the chair.
Mr. Scheer, I have paused your time. I will return the floor to you.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
I have a point of order, Madam Chair.
In terms of the relevance of Mr. Scheer's questioning, I don't understand how his questions around the use of the Emergencies Act are relevant to the current study.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bardish Chagger
I will note that there is another committee for the Emergencies Act. This committee, as I read the intent of the motion early on....
I'm sure Mr. Scheer's comments are going to come to the purpose of this study.
I'll give the floor back to you, Mr. Scheer.
Regina—Qu'Appelle, CPC
Surely, the minister should be able to tell us which law enforcement agency requested the invocation of the Emergencies Act.
Liberal
Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON
I have a point of order, Madam Chair.
The line of questioning has become very repetitive. Once again, I find it to be irrelevant. It's been asked and answered, and Mr. Scheer should be moving on to his next question.
Regina—Qu'Appelle, CPC
Madam Chair, could I respond to the point of order without taking up my time on the questioning?
If the members of the Liberal Party don't like the line of questioning, they're free to pursue a different line. We're talking about expanding the jurisdiction of the parliamentary police service in response to a series of events during which the federal government used the Emergencies Act.
I'm trying to understand which of the police entities around Parliament Hill made that request. I think it is absolutely relevant when we're discussing and contemplating expanding the jurisdiction of the parliamentary police service.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bardish Chagger
Thank you, Mr. Scheer, for making that point.
I see Mr. Vis has a double hand up.
Go ahead, Mr. Vis.
Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, CPC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that when Mr. Turnbull put forward this motion, it was for political purposes in conjunction with the Emergencies Act. In addition, Mr. Mendicino specifically referenced the Emergencies Act in his opening statement. For the Liberal members to start playing politics right now is very dangerous on a very serious matter.
I think the question is completely relevant and I would encourage you, Madam Chair, to enforce the rules of this committee, which completely allow for this line of questioning.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bardish Chagger
I am going to.... As you know, I have no problem suspending the meeting if we need to.
I think this is important work that we are doing. I think Minister Mendicino is capable of answering questions.
I will also state that I believe he has answered the question, but it is Mr. Scheer's time, and I am mindful of the comments that have been made.
Mr. Gerretsen, I will give you a quick second.
Kingston and the Islands, Lib.
I have a point of order, Madam Chair.
I think it is extremely unfortunate that Mr. Vis has implied motive towards Mr. Turnbull's rationale for bringing forward this particular study.
I see that Mr. Scheer is laughing at that comment, as though he thinks it's funny that we're studying the security of members of Parliament—
Regina—Qu'Appelle, CPC
Are you complaining about assigning motive, Mr. Gerretsen?
Kingston and the Islands, Lib.
Madam Chair, I think that you should consider the points of order that have been raised and you should encourage Mr. Scheer to stick to the discussion that we're having, which is specifically about the jurisdictional boundaries and expanding the territory in which—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bardish Chagger
I want to thank you, Mr. Gerretsen, and I want to thank all members for their advice and guidance. I would like to resume Mr. Scheer's time, so that we can continue.
Mr. Scheer, I believe you received a response. You might not always like it. We're used to that, as well, but we move on.
I'm going to start the clock again for you. I had it paused the whole time. I'm passing the floor back to you, Mr. Scheer, with your comments through the chair.
Regina—Qu'Appelle, CPC
I appreciate that, Madam Chair.
I will point out that although my questions were responded to, I haven't received an answer.
There are several police institutions responsible for the area around Parliament Hill. I'm trying to find out which one of them made the request for the Emergencies Act to be used. That is a question that the ministers should be able to answer.
Mr. Mendicino has made statements about having consulted, so I'd like a simple answer to a simple question. Which police agency asked for the Emergencies Act?
Liberal
Marco Mendicino Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Again, I think Commissioner Lucki has clarified that there was consultation between the RCMP and the government prior to the invocation of the Emergencies Act. The government, in good faith, sought the advice of law enforcement prior to its invocation on very specific powers, which were then subsequently used by law enforcement to restore public safety at a time of unprecedented civil disobedience, in the opinion of professional, non-partisan police.
Regina—Qu'Appelle, CPC
Before passing over my time to Mrs. Block, I'll read, for the committee, Commissioner Lucki's testimony. She stated, “No, there was never a question of requesting the Emergencies Act.”
It's very telling that the Liberals got very squirrelly when I asked this line of questioning. The RCMP have denied asking for the emergency measures act. Mr. Mendicino can't name which agency. I think that's very telling.
With that, I will pass my time over to Mrs. Block.