Public Safety Committee on Feb. 8th, 2011

[D/Commr Raf Souccar]

I think the last disagreement, the last difference of opinion we had, was over an attendance at the G-8 and the G-20.

He decided to visit our security site for the G8 and G20 summits the day the event got under way. My advice was this.

“That's not the time to go”. Once the conference starts, the game is on, security is on, our people are focused, and they don't need a commissioner present at the time. The presence of the commissioner is like the presence of the Chief of the Defence Staff and maybe even greater. It has a major impact on people and you have to see it to believe it. The presence of the commissioner among constables and corporals has an impact, and my advice to him was not to go, because it would be distracting. People all of a sudden are worried about the arrival of a commissioner, saluting the commissioner, and making sure that they can brief the commissioner. I told him it's tantamount to walking through a crime scene: you don't do it; back off.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Did he follow your advice?

[D/Commr Raf Souccar]

No. And I know that Bill Sweeney told him the same thing. He advised him not to go and to listen to me. But he decided to go anyways.

This was one disagreement we had. It's not the end of the world. I can't think of any others. They don't come to mind right now, but there were disagreements, differences in views. That's not a bad thing, having differences of opinions.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

That is a very good example. I appreciate it because it helps paint a picture of someone, who, in my view, did not check on the organization's preparations for quite a large-scale event from a public safety standpoint. And we saw what a disaster Toronto turned out to be. I understand your position completely.

[D/Commr Raf Souccar]

But I do want to say, and this is important, that differences of opinion are not a bad thing. In fact they're a good thing, because differences of opinion put more on the table. And in the end, with more options on the table, more opinions on the table, you can be better informed, so that you can pick the best one and carry it as your decision.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

I have another quick question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Souccar.

I'm sorry, Madame Mourani, your time is well over. Differences of opinion are not necessarily a bad thing, but our time is up and I am governed by that clock.

I want to thank the two representatives today, Mr. McDonell and Mr. Souccar, for appearing before our committee. I know that it wasn't easy for you to be here today, but we thank you for your input, your testimony, and we wish you all the best.

We are now adjourned.