Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Oct. 27th, 2022

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

This is my last question. We were talking earlier about resources, which are a scarce commodity these days. If we did go ahead with an expansion, would you be able to continue providing protective services for parliamentarians, not just within a potential new delineation of the parliamentary precinct, but also outside it?

[Larry Brookson]

I'm going to answer in English because there are technical terms.

For the exterior, humans will only get us so far. That's why we have technology to increase our capability. The exterior, on what can happen out there, is where the technology and the sensing capability needs to take place, whether it comes through cameras or existing technology, as well as effective barriers.

My biggest concern is vehicles being used as threats or weapons, whether they're large or small vehicles being weaponized. In terms of effective barriers and the technology, it's not necessary to have more guns on the Hill—I think we have enough—but we need other things to help.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Thank you.

Ms. Blaney, you have two and a half minutes.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I appreciate this. These are interesting conversations we're having today. I'm going to come back to you, Mr. Brookson. I have a lot of questions.

We've heard proposed here some discussions about potentially increasing public transit along Wellington and finding ways to do that. When we talk about how concerned you are with the lack of capacity to block people, are there any concerns around public transit going through that space?

[Larry Brookson]

Madam Chair, I'll always be the voice of concern, but I'm also a voice in working with partners and understanding the requirements and the service deliverables for Parliament. If we're talking specifically about a tram line or buses, I'm working with that partner in having those vehicles checked before they come through. That's something I'm comfortable working with, whether they're partners at the NCC or whoever ends up having that.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Through you, Madam Chair, I think what we're hearing clearly is that this in-between state is really messy. That's just reality. When you're in between one thing and another in life, and you don't know where you're going, things can be problematic.

I am going to come back for one more question, Mr. Brookson, to better understand this. Even if the proposed expanded jurisdiction happens and we do see it increase, I understand that it will still continue to be multi-jurisdictional. I don't think that will change profoundly in any way. What will change in terms of safety for this place?

[Larry Brookson]

Through you, Madam Chair, you'll see an immediate deployment of our marked vehicles on Wellington Street. You'll see a considerable shift in our human assets being on Wellington Street.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

My last question is to you, Mr. Bédard.

You spoke, in your testimony, about some of the things we'll have to do around redefining the parliamentary precinct. I think that's what you said. Could you just explain what that means a bit more, what the process is and how hard or, hopefully, easy that could be?

[Michel Bédard]

In using the current tools established on the Hill and in the parliamentary precinct, currently the mandate of PPS is circumscribed to the Hill and the precinct. The Hill is defined as the Parliament of Canada. If you were to expand the definition of the Hill, you'd have to amend the Parliament of Canada Act. Whether it's easy or difficult to amend an act of Parliament, I'll leave to you.

Now the—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Thank you. Since you've left it with us to do this important work, we appreciate that.

I really want to thank all witnesses for taking the time to join us today. The work you do is appreciated and noticed. I'll give a special shout-out to Mr. Brookson and the PPS. We really appreciate the work of your men and women in uniform. They're always here. I have to say I appreciate them wholeheartedly.

With that, I hope you all have a really good day.

With committee members staying for 30 seconds, today is the conclusion of our witnesses for the parliamentary precinct study. We will enter into doing the report. The summary of evidence, as we've already agreed, has turned into the foundation of the report, so most of it is written.

What I will ask is for analysts to compile any of the additional information into that report so that it's up to date. I would ask colleagues to submit their recommendations—in both official languages—to the clerk by Tuesday, so we can get that turned around, get into the next steps and try to keep ourselves moving.

Go ahead, Madame.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Madam Chair, could you repeat that, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

The analysts will finish drafting the report—

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

This report, right.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

—on the security briefing, yes. It was in our agreement that it's the first one that comes back to us. Then we will have recommendations. If you want to choose a recommendation together, you're welcome to. If you want to each submit your recommendations to the clerk, then we'll go through them as a committee to choose if the report will have a recommendation, multiple recommendations or where we're at.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

What is the deadline?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

It's Tuesday.

Right?

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

That's perfect. Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

You can submit those recommendations to the clerk.

Have a good day, everyone.

The meeting is adjourned.